“There's a sameness about American poetry that I don't think represents the whole people. It represents a poetry of the moment, a poetry of evasion, and I have problems with this. I believe poetry has always been political, long before poets had to deal with the page and white space . . . it's natural.” PeopleThinkingBelieveLongWholeMomentsProblemPoliticalI BelieveNaturalSpaceWhiteDealsPoetPagesSamenessEvasionAmerican PoetryThis I BelieveWhite Space Author:Yusef Komunyakaa
“I am this space my body believes in.” BelieveBodySpace Book:Pleasure Dome: New and Collected Poems Source: Pleasure Dome: New and Collected Poems
“I like connecting the abstract to the concrete. There's a tension in that. I believe the reader or listener should be able to enter the poem as a participant. So I try to get past resolving poems.” ShouldTryingBelieveAblePastI BelieveReaderAbstractTensionConcreteListenersConnectingParticipants Author:Yusef Komunyakaa
“I originally wanted to embrace the imagery and forthrightness of rap music. There are some interesting, dynamic voices in rap. But I find most of it irresponsible in its overt violence and commercialization of anger. As artists, we believe we can will action through language. If that's the case, we have to take responsibility for what we say.” IfsBelieveActionWantedArtistLanguageVoiceInterestingResponsibilityCasesViolenceEmbraceRapTaking ResponsibilityImageryIrresponsibleRap MusicSome InterestingCommercializationVisual Imagery Author:Yusef Komunyakaa
