In working on a poem, I love to revise. Lots of younger poets don't enjoy this, but in the process of revision I discover things. Rita Dove discoverenjoylot 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 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
Without imagination we can go nowhere. And imagination is not restricted to the arts. Every scientist I have met who has been a success has had to imagine. Rita Dove artimaginationimagine Change image and 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
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
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
For many years, I thought a poem was a whisper overheard, not an aria heard. Rita Dove ariahearoverhear 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
