I did know Ted Hughes and I partly wrote the book to explain to myself and others the complexities of a marriage that was for six years wonderfully productive of poetry and then ended in tragedy.

Quote by Anne Stevenson

Topics: Anne Stevenson Quotes

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 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...

I write, or used to write, to explain to myself situations I couldn't otherwise solve...

I write, or used to write, to explain to myself situations I couldn't otherwise solve...

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.

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.

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...

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...

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

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

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

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

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...

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 am now seventy, rather glad, really, that I won't live to see the horrors...

I am now seventy, rather glad, really, that I won't live to see the horrors...

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...