I think that's what poetry does. It allows people to come together and identify with a common thing that is outside of themselves, but which they identify with from the interior.

Quote by Diane Wakoski

Topics: Diane Wakoski Quotes

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...

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...

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,...

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'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 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...

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 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.

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...

Other people have noticed more of an evolution than I have and so I'll try...

Other people have noticed more of an evolution than I have and so I'll try...

I am not political as a person.

I am not political as a person.

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 think I'm a very good reader of poetry, but obviously, like everybody, I have...

I think I'm a very good reader of poetry, but obviously, like everybody, I have...

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...

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.