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Quote by Yusef Komunyakaa

“I think of my poems as personal and public at the same time. You could say they serve as psychological overlays. One fits on top of the other, and hopefully there's an ongoing evolution of clarity.”

Quote by Yusef Komunyakaa

Author

Yusef Komunyakaa

Yusef Komunyakaa is an American poet born on April 29, 1947. His work delves into themes of race, war, and identity, earning him acclaim from readers and critics alike. more

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“It took me 14 years to write poems about Vietnam. I had never thought about writing about it, and in a way I had been systematically writing around it.”

Way Writing Years Vietnam

Author:Yusef Komunyakaa

“My great-grandfather Melvin had been a carpenter - so was my father - and they taught me the value of tools: saws, hammers, chisels, files and rulers. It all dealt with conciseness and precision. It eliminated guesswork. One has to know his tools, so he doesn't work against himself.”

Knows Values Father Saws Taught Tools Rulers Grandfather Hammers Files Precision Carpenter Chisels Great Grandfather Guesswork

Book:Blue notes: essays, interviews, and commentaries

Source: Blue notes: essays, interviews, and commentaries

“Poetry helps me understand who I am. It helps me understand the world around me. But above all, what poetry has taught me is the fact that I need to embrace mystery in order to be completely human.”

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Author:Yusef Komunyakaa

“Only people who have been allowed to practise freedom can have the grown-up look in their eyes.”

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Book:Two Cheers for Democracy

Source: Two Cheers for Democracy

“Vietnam helped me to look at the horror and terror in the hearts of people and realize how we can't aim guns and set booby traps for people we have never spoken a word to. That kind of impersonal violence mystifies me.”

People Looks Heart Kind Realizing Violence Horror Gun Aim Terror Vietnam Traps

Author:Yusef Komunyakaa

“Big Bang Theory' is not my kind of show. It's not my humor. I don't like multicam comedies. I don't want an audience to tell me when to laugh.”

Want Kind Shows Bigs Audience Laughing Comedy Theory Bangs

Author:Zachary Knighton

“Film work can be tedious and sort of all over the place, especially when you have a family and you're going off and doing things somewhere else.”

Film Somewhere Else Tedious

Author:Zachary Knighton

“"FlashForward" was a dream come true. I had auditioned for David Goyer for "Blade: Trinity" and didn't get the part, but I guess he became a fan.”

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Author:Zachary Knighton

“I've done comedy, and I've done drama. I've sort of been a journeyman in my career so far.”

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Author:Zachary Knighton

“After high school, I went to VCU and got a B.F.A. in theater. I got to do a bunch of stuff professionally throughout college. I actually got my SAG card in college.”

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Author:Zachary Knighton