"When I was first published it was like having people rushing in coming to find out where I was hiding. Scary!"
About Selima Hill
Selima Hill — Life and Legacy
Selima Hill is a distinguished British poet recognized for her incisive examination of love and identity. Her poetry often delves into the intricacies of human emotions, revealing the struggles and triumphs that define personal identity. In works like 'The Accidental Tourist,' Hill captures the essence of vulnerability, stating that 'the heart is a broken thing,' which underscores the fragility of love and the emotional complexities that accompany it. Hill's writing reflects a deep understanding of the human psyche, often portraying the tension between self-identity and societal expectations. Her exploration of identity is not just personal but also universal, inviting readers to confront their own experiences. Through her evocative language, she challenges conventional notions of love and belonging, making her work resonate with those grappling with similar themes. The relevance of Hill's quotes and ideas persists today, as they speak to the ongoing struggles of individuals seeking connection and understanding in a complex world. Her ability to articulate the contradictions of love and identity continues to inspire and provoke thought, making her a significant voice in contemporary poetry.
Quote collection
Selima Hill quotes
13 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"Poetry is a big space and I love it."
"An audience sabotages my freedom, devastates my innocence, corrupts my integrity, inhibits my great joy - and of course gives me further to fall."
"I feel much safer faced with a blank sheet of paper than I do with a real person."
"I like to think that I'm giving a voice to the silenced."
"All I do and say and think 'as a poet' is much truer and more intimate than anything I say face to face."
"I step naked into the shower of truth - whole-hearted, bloody-minded, utterly selfish, no longer even pretending to enjoy or understand anything."
"If I knew how to say it directly, I would not need to write poetry. I would just talk to people and be happy."
"There's the space that you soar into, the space that you sometimes break through to, and hang in. A sort of gasp or gap."
"Being a poet is like having an invisible partner. It isn't easy. But you can't live without it either. Talent is only 10 per cent. The rest is obsession."
"The very things I used to be told off for - daydreaming, exaggerating, making mistakes, wild guessing, contradicting, spying, being obsessive, being reckless - for these, suddenly, I am being praised."
"What am I writing for anyway? Is it like dreaming? Is it a benevolent process? Something that moves the past forward? And what about those people who say all you get from looking at the past is a stiff neck?"
"I'm not so sure that the value of art is all it is cracked up to be."