Rita Dove Quotes

Poet

Rita Dove is an American poet born on August 28, 1952. Her works are known for their profound social insight and emotional expression, having won numerous awards including the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry.

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All Thinking Writing Ifs Mean Poet Poetry People Way World Children Feels Knows Needs Trying Book Library Literature Moving Firsts Humans

Famous Rita Dove Quotes

“What's a word, a talisman, to hold against the world?”

World Talismans

Book:Collected Poems: 1974-2004

Source: Collected Poems: 1974-2004

“I think that you certainly don't have to be aged and travel the world to write a poem.”

Thinking World Writing Travel The World

Author:Rita Dove

“In fact, sometimes traveling the world is a way of not writing a poem, but it's the quality of experience. It's being able to experience something and when you begin to write about it be able to apply the tools that you need for writing.”

World Way Needs Writing Sometimes Facts Able Quality Tools Time Travel

Author:Rita Dove

“If our children are unable to voice what they mean, no one will know how they feel. If they can’t imagine a different world, they are stumbling through a darkness made all the more sinister by its lack of reference points. For a young person growing up in America’s alienated neighborhoods, there can be no greater empowerment than to dare to speak from the heart — and then to discover that one is not alone in ones feelings.”

“If we’re going to solve the problems of the world, we have to learn how to talk to one another. Poetry is the language at its essence. It’s the bones and the skeleton of the language. It teaches you, if nothing else, how to choose your words.”

Ifs World Problem Language Teach Essence Solve Bones Poetry Is Skeletons

Author:Rita Dove

“The First Book: Go ahead, it won't bite. Well... maybe a little. More a nip, like. A tingle. It's pleasurable, really. You see, it keeps on opening. You may fall in. Sure, it's hard to get started; remember learning to use knife and fork? Dig in: you'll never reach bottom. It's not like it's the end of the world -- just the world as you think you know it.”

Thinking Knows World Firsts Wells May Littles Book Ends Hard Use Remember Fall Bottom Opening Bites Knives End Of The World Forks You Think You Know

Author:Rita Dove

“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!”

World Years Fronts Pages Importance Ironic Twilight Ginsberg

Author:Rita Dove

“My childhood library was small enough not to be intimidating. And yet I felt the whole world was contained in those two rooms. I could walk any aisle and smell wisdom.”

World Two Enough Whole Felt Walks Rooms Childhood Library Smell Whole World Intimidating Aisle

Author:Rita Dove

“The library is an arena of possibility, opening both a window into the soul and a door onto the world.”

World Soul Doors Possibility Window Library Opening Arena

Author:Rita Dove

About the Author

Born: August 28, 1952
Known for: Poet
Quotes: 109

Books & Sources

Conversations with Rita DoveRelated source material

On the Bus With Rosa ParksRelated source material

Collected Poems: 1974-2004Related source material

Fifth Sunday: storiesRelated source material

Grace Notes: PoemsRelated source material

Selected poemsRelated source material

The Yellow House on the Corner: PoemsRelated source material

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