I was unnerved to learn in my twenties that the poems of Emily Dickinson that I had memorized as a girl were not the poems as she had written them. Helen Vendler dickinsonemilygirl Change image and share on social
I always write after I think for quite a long time, so the actual writing time is rather short. I think a lot of the work gets done when you have something on your mind while you're doing many other things. Helen Vendler actuallonglot share on social
I wouldn't be very happy if a poet read what I had written and said, 'What a peculiar thing to say about this work of mine.' Helen Vendler happyminepeculiar Change image and share on social
The art of utterance persuades initially by its music and its rhythm, before semiotic or personal characteristics come into play. Helen Vendler artcharacteristicinitially Change image and share on social
I believe that poems are a score for performance by the reader, and that you become the speaking voice. You don't read or overhear the voice in the poem - you are the voice in the poem. Helen Vendler overhearperformancepoem Change image and share on social
If you like the precision and concision of poetry, a page of prose is unsatisfying in a certain way. And poetry is so direct. Helen Vendler concisiondirectpage Change image and share on social
There are not many poets whose fame rests on a single work. Helen Vendler famepoetrest Change image and share on social
When I first heard Wallace Stevens' voice, it was by chance: a friend wanted to listen to the recording he had made for the Harvard Vocarium Series. Helen Vendler chancefriendharvard Change image and share on social
I would like to spend more time with Spanish poetry. I know French better than Spanish, but Spanish was my first language, and my father spoke it to us. Helen Vendler fatherfrenchlanguage Change image and share on social
Twentieth-century American poetry has been one of the glories of modern literature. Helen Vendler americancenturyglory Change image and share on social
