“I think I'm a very good reader of poetry, but obviously, like everybod...” — Diane Wakoski Quote

I think I'm a very good reader of poetry, but obviously, like everybody, I have a set of criteria for reading poems, and I'm not shy about presenting them, so if people ask for my critical response to a poem, I tell them what works and why, and what doesn't work and why.

Poetry is the art of saying what you mean but disguising it.

Distinctly American poetry is usually written in the context of one's geographic landscape, sometimes out of one's cultural myths, and often with reference to gender and race or ethnic origins.

I'm passing on a tradition of which I am part. There's a long line of poets who went before me, and I'm another one, and I'm hoping to pass that on to other younger, or newer, poets than myself.

I could make love with you until the mood decides to never glow again.

Later that night she picked the polish off

my dear,

One reads poetry because he is a member of the human race, and the human race is filled with passion! Medicine, law, banking - these are necesseary to sustain life. But poetry, romance, love, beauty? These are what we stay alive for!

I have stretched ropes from steeple to steeple; Garlands from window to window; Golden chains from star to star ... And I dance.