The American Dream is a phrase we'll have to wrestle with all of our lives. It means a lot of things to different people. I think we're redefining it now.

Quote by Rita Dove

Topics: Rita Dove Quotes

In working on a poem, I love to revise. Lots of younger poets don't enjoy...

In working on a poem, I love to revise. Lots of younger poets don't enjoy...

I loved to read, but I always thought that the dream was too far away....

I loved to read, but I always thought that the dream was too far away....

The joy of working at something to find out what it means to me is...

The joy of working at something to find out what it means to me is...

Going to the library was the one place we got to go without asking for...

Going to the library was the one place we got to go without asking for...

Under adversity, under oppression, the words begin to fail, the easy words begin to fail....

Under adversity, under oppression, the words begin to fail, the easy words begin to fail....

To write for PC reasons, because you think you ought to be dealing with this...

To write for PC reasons, because you think you ought to be dealing with this...

You have to imagine it possible before you can see something. You can have the...

You have to imagine it possible before you can see something. You can have the...

There are times in life when, instead of complaining, you do something about your complaints.

There are times in life when, instead of complaining, you do something about your complaints.

What is ironic is that Allen Ginsberg's importance was in its twilight for so many...

What is ironic is that Allen Ginsberg's importance was in its twilight for so many...

I have a high guilt quotient. A poem can go through as many as 50...

I have a high guilt quotient. A poem can go through as many as 50...

I was appointed Poet Laureate. It came totally out of the blue because most Poet...

I was appointed Poet Laureate. It came totally out of the blue because most Poet...

I think reading Shakespeare's plays when I was young was extremely important. He had the...

I think reading Shakespeare's plays when I was young was extremely important. He had the...

Rap is only one end of a whole spectrum of verbal play and virtuosity. Rap...

Rap is only one end of a whole spectrum of verbal play and virtuosity. Rap...

All of us have moments in our childhood where we come alive for the first...

All of us have moments in our childhood where we come alive for the first...

I try to show what it is about language and music that enthralls, because I...

I try to show what it is about language and music that enthralls, because I...

There are distinct duties of a poet laureate. I plan a reading series at the...

There are distinct duties of a poet laureate. I plan a reading series at the...

It really wasn't until I was in college when I began to write more and...

It really wasn't until I was in college when I began to write more and...

I was apprehensive. I feared every time I talked about poetry, it would be filtered...

I was apprehensive. I feared every time I talked about poetry, it would be filtered...

I thought, after the Pulitzer, at least nothing will surprise me quite that much in...

I thought, after the Pulitzer, at least nothing will surprise me quite that much in...

I carry a notebook with me everywhere. But that's only the first step.

I carry a notebook with me everywhere. But that's only the first step.