Roger McGough Quotes & Sayings

Let me die a youngman's death not a clean and in-between- the-sheets, holy-water death. — Roger McGough

People can put their best poems straight onto the web. — Roger McGough

I'm terrified of switching the computer on because there are so many poems. — Roger McGough

The only problem
with Haiku is that you just
get started and then — Roger McGough

If I decide to be indecisive, that's my decision. — Roger McGough

If I do a poetry reading I want people to walk out and say they feel better for having been there - not because you've done a comedy performance but because you're talking about your father dying or having young children, things that touch your soul. — Roger McGough

I wish the word whimsical wasn't used now. — Roger McGough

By thus keeping one pace ahead of myself I need never catch up with the truth. — Roger McGough

Noone knows and noone sees
we lovers doing what we please
but people stop and point at these
ten milk bottles a-turning into cheese — Roger McGough

We shouldn't have got married, really. Shouldn't have got married. Too young. Not ready for it. — Roger McGough

Whereas with poetry no one has to show anybody really, and you don't have to tell anyone you're doing it. — Roger McGough

The general at the radar screenRubbed his hands with glee,And grinning pressed the buttonAnd started world war three. — Roger McGough

There's the moon trying to look romanticMoon's too old that's her troubleAren't we all? — Roger McGough

If the heart bleeds love, bare it,
If the martyr's crown fits, wear it. — Roger McGough

Everyday I think about dying About disease, starvation, violence, terrorism, war, the end of the world. It helps keep my mind off things. — Roger McGough

You will put on a dress of guilt and shoes with broken high ideals. — Roger McGough

So it's off with the shellsuit and on with the Armanis,
Bring out the champagne and the caviar sarnies — Roger McGough

Do people who wave at trains Wave at the driver, or at the train itself? Or, do people who wave at trains Wave at the passengers? Those hurtling strangers, The unidentifiable flying faces? — Roger McGough

Yes, you can feel very alone as a poet and you sometimes think, is it worth it? Is it worth carrying on? But because there were other poets, you became part of a scene. Even though they were very different writers, it made it easier because you were together. — Roger McGough

I was put off by people at school - my cabbage wasn't as good as other people's, you know, so that put me off. — Roger McGough

I could never begin a poem: 'When I am dead' In case it tempted Fate, and Fate gave way. — Roger McGough