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
One definition of eternity is that we are not alone on this planet, that there are those who've gone before and those who will come, and that there is a community of spirits. Rita Dove communitydefinitioneternity Change image and share on social
I have a high guilt quotient. A poem can go through as many as 50 or 60 drafts. It can take from a day to two years-or longer. Rita Dove daydraftguilt Change image and share on social
I grew up in Ohio, where civil-rights accomplishments had already begun to accelerate before Martin Luther King appeared. In hindsight, we know that many people, black and white, were instrumental in changing the Jim Crow status quo on all levels. Rita Dove accelerateaccomplishmentappear share on social
For years, I had heard about the lack of interest in literature in the U.S. and I had complained about it. I failed to understand how people could fail to be moved by art. Rita Dove artcomplainfail Change image and share on social
It's unfortunate that sometimes in schools, there's this need to have things quantified and graded. Rita Dove gradequantifyschool Change image and share on social
What is ironic is that Allen Ginsberg's importance was in its twilight for so many years that it took his death to bring it to the front page. He electrified an entire world! Rita Dove allenbringdeath Change image and share on social
It really wasn't until I was in college when I began to write more and more, and I realized I was scheduling my entire life around my writing. Rita Dove begincollegeentire 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 loved to read, but I always thought that the dream was too far away. The person who had written the book was a god, it wasn't a person. Rita Dove bookdreamgod Change image and share on social