Have you ever heard a good joke? If you've ever heard someone just right, with the right pacing, then you're already on the way to poetry. It's about using words in very precise ways and using gesture. Rita Dove gesturegoodhave share on social
The sound of the mandolin is a very curious sound because it's cheerful and melancholy at the same time, and I think it comes from that shadow string, the double strings. Rita Dove cheerfulcuriousdouble Change image and share on social
Being true to yourself really means being true to all the complexities of the human spirit. Rita Dove complexityhumanmean Change image and share on social
I try to show what it is about language and music that enthralls, because I think those are the two elements of poetry. Rita Dove elemententhralllanguage Change image and share on social
If we really want to be full and generous in spirit, we have no choice but to trust at some level. Rita Dove choicefullgenerous Change image and share on social
I prefer to explore the most intimate moments, the smaller, crystallized details we all hinge our lives on. Rita Dove crystallizedetailexplore Change image and share on social
Under adversity, under oppression, the words begin to fail, the easy words begin to fail. In order to convey things accurately, the human being is almost forced to find the most precise words possible, which is a precondition for literature. Rita Dove accuratelyadversitybegin share on social
I believe people may have a predisposition for artistic creativity. It doesn't mean they're going to make it. Rita Dove artisticcreativitymake 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
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
