Equality and self-determination should never be divided in the name of religious or ideological fervor. Rita Dove determinationdivideequality Change image and share on social
To practice your scales, so to speak, in order play the symphony, is what you have to do as a young poet. Rita Dove orderplaypoet Change image and share on social
Nothing is too small. Nothing is too, quote-unquote, ordinary or insignificant. Those are the things that make up the measure of our days, and they're the things that sustain us. And they're the things that certainly can become worthy of poetry. Rita Dove dayinsignificantmake share on social
For many years, I thought a poem was a whisper overheard, not an aria heard. Rita Dove ariahearoverhear Change image and share on social
I always loved science. And in fact, I got a science award in high school. I mean, I loved science, but I think I loved literature more. Rita Dove awardfacthigh Change image and share on social
I think one of the things that people tend to forget is that poets do write out of life. It isn't some set piece that then gets put up on the shelf, but that the impetus, the real instigation for poetry is everything that's happening around us. Rita Dove forgethappenimpetus share on social
There are times in life when, instead of complaining, you do something about your complaints. Rita Dove complaincomplaintlife Change image and share on social
Poetry is language at its most distilled and most powerful. Rita Dove distilllanguagepoetry Change image and share on social
I was appointed Poet Laureate. It came totally out of the blue because most Poet Laureates had been considerably older than I. It was not something that I even had begun to dream about! Rita Dove appointbeginblue Change image and share on social
