For many years, I thought a poem was a whisper overheard, not an aria heard.

Quote by Rita Dove

Topics: Rita Dove Quotes

Poetry is language at its most distilled and most powerful.

Poetry is language at its most distilled and most powerful.

Under adversity, under oppression, the words begin to fail, the easy words begin to fail....

Under adversity, under oppression, the words begin to fail, the easy words begin to fail....

Poetry is language at its most distilled and most powerful.

Poetry is language at its most distilled and most powerful.

I write short stories, and I wrote a play.

I write short stories, and I wrote a play.

You have to imagine it possible before you can see something. You can have the...

You have to imagine it possible before you can see something. You can have the...

I keep the drafts of each poem in color-coded folders. I pick up the folders...

I keep the drafts of each poem in color-coded folders. I pick up the folders...

It really wasn't until I was in college when I began to write more and...

It really wasn't until I was in college when I began to write more and...

I try to show what it is about language and music that enthralls, because I...

I try to show what it is about language and music that enthralls, because I...

I think reading Shakespeare's plays when I was young was extremely important. He had the...

I think reading Shakespeare's plays when I was young was extremely important. He had the...

I prefer to explore the most intimate moments, the smaller, crystallized details we all hinge...

I prefer to explore the most intimate moments, the smaller, crystallized details we all hinge...

I was apprehensive. I feared every time I talked about poetry, it would be filtered...

I was apprehensive. I feared every time I talked about poetry, it would be filtered...

Rap is only one end of a whole spectrum of verbal play and virtuosity. Rap...

Rap is only one end of a whole spectrum of verbal play and virtuosity. Rap...

I think children have talent and insight, but it gets beaten out of them.

I think children have talent and insight, but it gets beaten out of them.

My favorite poets may not be your bread and butter. I have more favorite poems...

My favorite poets may not be your bread and butter. I have more favorite poems...

I loved to write when I was a child. I wrote, but I always thought...

I loved to write when I was a child. I wrote, but I always thought...

I see a resurgence of interest in poetry. I am less optimistic about the prospects...

I see a resurgence of interest in poetry. I am less optimistic about the prospects...

I didn't know writers could be real live people, because I never knew any writers.

I didn't know writers could be real live people, because I never knew any writers.

Being true to yourself really means being true to all the complexities of the human...

Being true to yourself really means being true to all the complexities of the human...

For years, I had heard about the lack of interest in literature in the U.S....

For years, I had heard about the lack of interest in literature in the U.S....

I prefer to explore the most intimate moments, the smaller, crystallized details we all hinge...

I prefer to explore the most intimate moments, the smaller, crystallized details we all hinge...