In a poem, the words happen; they just come. I let them. Otherwise, I wouldn't write. To interfere with what is happening is to distort the poem. Just a very small degree of intelligence and supervision is necessary. Very tactful. Any revision later that violates the text as it came, that begins rewriting the words, is fake.

The quote "In a poem, the words happen; they just come. I let them. Otherwise, I wouldn't write. To interfere with what is happening is to distort the poem. Just a very small degree of intelligence and supervision is necessary. Very tactful. Any revision later that violates the text as it came, that begins rewriting the words, is fake." by Louis Dudek reflects the poet's philosophy on the creative process. Dudek, a Canadian poet, essayist, and editor, suggests that true poetry arises organically, and the writer's role is not to force or manipulate the words but to allow them to flow naturally. The emphasis on the words "just come" speaks to the idea that poetry is an expression that emerges from within, without excessive control.

Dudek argues that to interfere with the natural flow of a poem is to distort its essence. He believes that excessive editing or rewriting compromises the authenticity of the original creation. The notion that a poet should allow words to "happen" aligns with the idea that the best poetry comes from a place of spontaneity and intuition, where the creative process is almost instinctive rather than intellectual. This approach values the raw, unrefined form of the poem before it is molded by the hand of the poet.

While Dudek acknowledges that a small degree of intelligence and supervision is necessary to guide the words and ensure the poem remains coherent, he emphasizes the importance of tactful intervention. This careful balance allows for the integrity of the poem to remain intact while ensuring that it is not lost in overthinking or excessive revision. To him, the first draft or the initial flow of words holds the truest expression of the poem’s meaning and emotion.

Finally, Dudek’s quote critiques the practice of extensive revision, suggesting that such intervention can make a poem feel inauthentic or "fake." His belief is that poetry should capture the essence of an idea or feeling as it first emerges, without the influence of later revisions that might alter or dilute its original impact. The poet’s role, in Dudek's view, is to be a conduit for the poem rather than an overzealous editor.