I think a poet, like a painter, should be a craftsperson.

Quote by Anne Stevenson

Topics: Anne Stevenson Quotes

Peter Lucas and I live in Durham but spend a great of time in North...

Peter Lucas and I live in Durham but spend a great of time in North...

I dislike literary jargon and never use it. Criticism has only one function and that...

I dislike literary jargon and never use it. Criticism has only one function and that...

Each word bears its weight, so you have to read my poems quite slowly.

Each word bears its weight, so you have to read my poems quite slowly.

My earlier poems were sadder than my poems are today, perhaps because I wrote them...

My earlier poems were sadder than my poems are today, perhaps because I wrote them...

I work very hard on all my poems, but most of the work consists of...

I work very hard on all my poems, but most of the work consists of...

The sea is as near as we come to another world.

The sea is as near as we come to another world.

I'm not really quiet or shy. Ask any of my friends! But I always ground...

I'm not really quiet or shy. Ask any of my friends! But I always ground...

I like rhyme because it is memorable, I like form because having to work to...

I like rhyme because it is memorable, I like form because having to work to...

Blake has always been a favorite, the lyrics, not so much the prophetic books, but...

Blake has always been a favorite, the lyrics, not so much the prophetic books, but...

Sylvia Plath was just a month and a half older than I, and when she...

Sylvia Plath was just a month and a half older than I, and when she...

I remain loyal to Bach, Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert in music and to Shakespeare and...

I remain loyal to Bach, Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert in music and to Shakespeare and...

There is far too much literary criticism of the wrong kind. That is why I...

There is far too much literary criticism of the wrong kind. That is why I...

I don't like poetry that just slaps violent words on a canvas, as it were.

I don't like poetry that just slaps violent words on a canvas, as it were.

Poets should ignore most criticism and get on with making poetry.

Poets should ignore most criticism and get on with making poetry.

I married a young Englishman in Cambridge in 1955 and have lived in Britain every...

I married a young Englishman in Cambridge in 1955 and have lived in Britain every...

A poem might be defined as thinking about feelings - about human feelings and frailties.

A poem might be defined as thinking about feelings - about human feelings and frailties.

I play with language a great deal in my poems, and I enjoy that. I...

I play with language a great deal in my poems, and I enjoy that. I...

Yes, I do often write poems from the mind, but I hope I don't ignore...

Yes, I do often write poems from the mind, but I hope I don't ignore...

When everything is for 'fun' nothing is for the good.

When everything is for 'fun' nothing is for the good.

I have always made my own rules, in poetry as in life - though I...

I have always made my own rules, in poetry as in life - though I...