Instead of trying to come up and pontificate on what literature is, you need to talk with children, to teachers, and make sure they get poetry in the curriculum early. Rita Dove childcurriculumearly Change image and share on social
The joy of working at something to find out what it means to me is what I grew up with. Rita Dove findgrowjoy Change image and share on social
If they don't read, if they don't love reading; if they don't find themselves compulsively reading, I don't think they're really a writer. Rita Dove compulsivelyfindlove Change image and share on social
People write me from all over the country, asking me, and sometimes even telling me, what they think a poet laureate should do. I found that immensely valuable. Rita Dove countryfindimmensely Change image and share on social
I see a resurgence of interest in poetry. I am less optimistic about the prospects for the arts when it comes to federal funding. Rita Dove artfederalfund Change image and share on social
I didn't know writers could be real live people, because I never knew any writers. Rita Dove knowlivepeople Change image and share on social
It's the combination of the intimate and the public that I find so exciting about being poet laureate. Rita Dove combinationexcitfind Change image and share on social
My favorite poets may not be your bread and butter. I have more favorite poems than favorite poets. Rita Dove breadbutterfavorite Change image and share on social
I make a discovery in a poem as I write it. Rita Dove discoverymakepoem Change image and share on social
I've always been intrigued by the way history works, the way we decide what is mentioned. Rita Dove decidehavehistory Change image and share on social
