My poems were just kind of all over the place. They had no focus, no location, nothing. Kind of a series of images that could have been set anywhere. A lot of the poems were just exercises for myself.

Quote by James Welch

Topics: James Welch Quotes

I wander around, get the lay of the land and try to imagine what kind...

I wander around, get the lay of the land and try to imagine what kind...

In a lot of Indian societies, spirituality has been lost, I think it's still the...

In a lot of Indian societies, spirituality has been lost, I think it's still the...

I think ethnic and regional labels are insulting to writers and really put restrictions on...

I think ethnic and regional labels are insulting to writers and really put restrictions on...

I am definitely a storyteller, but probably not a traditional Storyteller.

I am definitely a storyteller, but probably not a traditional Storyteller.

Before, Indian people had been so defeated, they were always looking for outsiders, for the...

Before, Indian people had been so defeated, they were always looking for outsiders, for the...

Nobody would take checks from Indians, nobody would give them any credit, and nobody would...

Nobody would take checks from Indians, nobody would give them any credit, and nobody would...

The economic piece is still missing, since it's so hard to attract industry to reservations,...

The economic piece is still missing, since it's so hard to attract industry to reservations,...

I do believe in the viability of Indian spiritualism.

I do believe in the viability of Indian spiritualism.

To receive this award from an organization I admire so much makes me totally happy...

To receive this award from an organization I admire so much makes me totally happy...

I wrote a lot in study hall to while away the hours.

I wrote a lot in study hall to while away the hours.

The title of the poems was The Only Bar in Dixon. We sent it out...

The title of the poems was The Only Bar in Dixon. We sent it out...

The townspeople outside the reservations had a very superior attitude toward Indians, which was kind...

The townspeople outside the reservations had a very superior attitude toward Indians, which was kind...

Our literature is in great shape.

Our literature is in great shape.

Willingness to change is a strength, even if it means plunging part of the company...

Willingness to change is a strength, even if it means plunging part of the company...

I used to object to being called an Indian writer, and would always say I...

I used to object to being called an Indian writer, and would always say I...

Richard Hugo taught me that anyone with a desire to write, an ear for language...

Richard Hugo taught me that anyone with a desire to write, an ear for language...