I definitely wish to distinguish American poetry from British or other English language poetry. – Diane Wakoski
PC stuff just lowers the general acceptance of good work and replaces it with bogus poetry that celebrates values that in themselves are probably quite worthy. – Diane Wakoski
But I dont think that poetry is a good, to use a contemporary word, venue, for current events. – Diane Wakoski
I think thats 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. – Diane Wakoski
One of the greatest gifts my father gave me – unintentionally – was witnessing the courage with which he bore adversity. We had a bit of a rollercoaster life with some really challenging financial periods. He was always unshaken, completely tranquil, the same ebullient, laughing, jovial man. – Ben Okri