Art is worthless unless it plants a measure of splendor in people’s hearts.
Taha Muhammad Ali (1931-2011), Palestinian Poet
“That, to me, is what poetry is about, that poetry that works. And I love the word splendor. It’s such a big word that has so many layers like the words mercy or grace. Planting a “measure of splendor” has such a big feeling to me and that’s what I hope poetry does. This phrase is from a poem called Twigs by Taha, a Palestinian poet that died in 2011. He had a fourth grade education and ran a souvenir shop in Nazareth until his death. I just love that an ordinary person, in a way we’re all ordinary people, but someone we think of as an ordinary man was able to create such beautiful poetry.”
Margaret Barkley, poet
and author of Ribs: A book of poems
