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,…

Quote by Diane Wakoski

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One, I have a wonderful publisher, Black Sparrow Press; as long as they exist, they...

One, I have a wonderful publisher, Black Sparrow Press; as long as they exist, they...

Distinctly American poetry is usually written in the context of one's geographic landscape, sometimes out...

Distinctly American poetry is usually written in the context of one's geographic landscape, sometimes out...

I think that great poetry is the most interesting and complex use of the poet's...

I think that great poetry is the most interesting and complex use of the poet's...

I am not political as a person.

I am not political as a person.

I'm perfectly happy when I look out at an audience and it's all women. I...

I'm perfectly happy when I look out at an audience and it's all women. I...

Still, language is resilient, and poetry when it is pressured simply goes underground.

Still, language is resilient, and poetry when it is pressured simply goes underground.

From reading a previous answer, you know that I consider all those aspects to be...

From reading a previous answer, you know that I consider all those aspects to be...

But I don't think that poetry is a good, to use a contemporary word, venue,...

But I don't think that poetry is a good, to use a contemporary word, venue,...

I definitely wish to distinguish American poetry from British or other English language poetry.

I definitely wish to distinguish American poetry from British or other English language poetry.

High and low culture come together in all Post Modern art, and American poetry is...

High and low culture come together in all Post Modern art, and American poetry is...

PC stuff just lowers the general acceptance of good work and replaces it with bogus...

PC stuff just lowers the general acceptance of good work and replaces it with bogus...

I think one of the things that language poets are very involved with is getting...

I think one of the things that language poets are very involved with is getting...

I'm passing on a tradition of which I am part. There's a long line of...

I'm passing on a tradition of which I am part. There's a long line of...

I do not read newspapers. I do not watch television. I am not interested in...

I do not read newspapers. I do not watch television. I am not interested in...

So, I've never been politically correct, even before that term was available to us, and...

So, I've never been politically correct, even before that term was available to us, and...

Sometimes the archaism of the language when it's spoken is why we are all in...

Sometimes the archaism of the language when it's spoken is why we are all in...

I don't like political poetry, and I don't write it. If this question was pointing...

I don't like political poetry, and I don't write it. If this question was pointing...

I think that's what poetry does. It allows people to come together and identify with...

I think that's what poetry does. It allows people to come together and identify with...

My poems are almost all written as Diane. I don't have any problems with that,...

My poems are almost all written as Diane. I don't have any problems with that,...

I have always wanted what I have now come to call the voice of personal...

I have always wanted what I have now come to call the voice of personal...