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

Quote by Anne Stevenson

Topics: Anne Stevenson Quotes

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 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 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...

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

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

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...

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

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

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...

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 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...

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 did know Ted Hughes and I partly wrote the book to explain to myself...

I did know Ted Hughes and I partly wrote the book to explain to myself...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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.

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

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

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...

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...