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Quote by Elaine Equi

“I tend to like poems that are short as well as funny. I love Joe Brainard and Aram Saroyan. And I think their sense of humor and minimalist approach are pretty radical.”

Quote by Elaine Equi

Author

Elaine Equi, born in 1953, is a talented poet whose works are renowned for their profound emotions and unique style. She is highly regarded by readers and has made significant contributions to contemporary literature. more

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“I've always liked language and been a big reader. I always loved books as objects. My favorite time of year as a child was September when we'd go buy all kinds of notebooks and pens and markers for school. I think I wanted to be a writer just so I'd be able to fill up all those pages.”

Thinking Years Kind Children Book Bigs Able Wanted School Language Objects Reader Pages My Favorite All Kinds Pens September Notebook Markers

Author:Elaine Equi

“To be honest, I wasn't crazy about the kind of poetry I found in high school English books. I didn't get really excited about poetry until I discovered Lorca in college. If it wasn't for surrealism, I'm not sure I'd have become so involved in poetry. I was attracted by the extravagant imagery and elements of fantasy. This was in the '70s and it seemed to fit the psychedelic mood of the times. I found it liberating.”

“I think poetry workshops get a bad rap. I'm sure some aren't good, but in general, I like the format. I try and keep mine pretty informal. Sometimes we have wine or sake, and we read aloud, and we talk.”

Thinking Trying Sometimes Mines Wine Sake Rap Format Workshops

Author:Elaine Equi

“It's my experience that people write better when they feel at ease and free to experiment, rather than being in a competitive, hypercritical atmosphere. There are always a few students who want me to be tough or harsh, but it's really not my style.”

People Want Feels Writing Style Students Tough Experiments Atmosphere Ease Want Me Harsh

Author:Elaine Equi

“Sometimes you get lit students that know a lot about the canon but virtually nothing about contemporary poetry and vice versa. I like to mix things up.”

Knows Sometimes Students Vices Contemporary Lit Vice Versa Canon

Author:Elaine Equi

“In Chicago, if you tell someone you're a writer, they look at you suspiciously - as if to say "yeah, right." In New York, people don't question the idea. If you say you're a writer, that's what you are.”

People Ifs Looks Ideas New York Yeah Chicago

Author:Elaine Equi

“I thought of New York as a free city, like one of those prewar nests of intrigue and licentiousness where exiles and lamsters and refugees found shelter in a tangle of improbable juxtapositions. I had never gotten around to changing my nationality from the one assigned me at birth, but I would have declared myself a citizen of New York City had such a stateless state existed, its flag a solid black.”

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“I have a lot of respect for advertising. If I didn't teach and could go back in time, I might try and become a copywriter. I especially like print ads that combine a photo with a short caption or tag line.”

Ifs Trying Might Lines Teach Advertising Print Ads Tag Back In Time Go Back In Time Caption

Author:Elaine Equi

“When I shut off the verbal, I like to escape into the visual.”

Author:Elaine Equi

“I like to look at the interface between words and pictures and wonder about which comes first, a sort of chicken-or-egg type of question.”

Firsts Looks Wonder Type Eggs Chickens Interfaces

Author:Elaine Equi