“We tend to be so bombarded with information, and we move so quickly, that there's a tendency to treat everything on the surface level and process things quickly. This is antithetical to the kind of openness and perception you have to have to be receptive to poetry.poetry seems to exist in a parallel universe outside daily life in America.” KindSeemsAmericaMovingPoetryUniverseProcessLevelsInformationPoetPerceptionTreatsSurfaceTendenciesDaily LifeOpennessParallelsReceptiveParallel UniverseBombarded Author:Rita Dove
“My first advice would be to read, read, read, which sounds interesting coming in a digital age, but it's so much easier to listen to a poem than it is to sit down and actually read it and to hear it in your head and that is something that every poet or aspiring poet needs to be able to do, I think to hear it in their head.” ThinkingNeedsFirstsWould BeAgeAbleSoundInterestingAdvicePoetEasierDown AndDigitalDigital Age Author:Rita Dove
“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” ProcessEnjoyPoetRevision Book:Conversations with Rita Dove Source: Conversations with Rita Dove
“There are distinct duties of a poet laureate. I plan a reading series at the Library of Congress and advise the librarian. The rest is how I want to promote poetry” WantReadingPlansPoetDutySeriesLibraryCongressAdviseLibrarianAggravation Author:Rita Dove
“My favorite poets may not be your bread and butter. I have more favorite poems than favorite poets.” MayPoetMy FavoriteBreadBread And Butter Author:Rita Dove
“Being Poet Laureate made me realize I was capable of a larger voice. There is a more public utterance I can make as a poet.” MadeI CanVoiceRealizingPoetCapableUtterance Author:Rita Dove
“It's the combination of the intimate and the public that I find so exciting about being poet laureate.” PoetExcitingCombinationIntimate Author:Rita Dove
“To practice your scales, so to speak, in order play the symphony, is what you have to do as a young poet.” PlayYoungOrderSpeakPracticePoetScalesSymphony Author:Rita Dove
“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!” DreamPoetBlue Author:Rita Dove
“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.” PeopleThinkingShouldWritingCountrySometimesFoundPoetAskingValuable Author:Rita Dove
