Distinctly American poetry is usually written in the context of ones geographic landscape, sometimes out of ones cultural myths, and often with reference to gender and race or ethnic origins. – Diane Wakoski
From reading a previous answer, you know that I consider all those aspects to be part of American cultural myth and thus they figure into good American poetry, whether the poet is aware of what he is doing or not. – Diane Wakoski
I think Im a very good reader of poetry, but obviously, like everybody, I have a set of criteria for reading poems, and Im not shy about presenting them, so if people ask for my critical response to a poem, I tell them what works and why, and what doesnt work and why. – Diane Wakoski
But I am not political in the current events sense, and I have never wanted anyone to read my poetry that way. – Diane Wakoski
When I hit a block, regardless of what I am writing, what the subject matter is, or whats going on in the plot, I go back and I read Pablo Nerudas poetry. I dont actually speak Spanish, so I read it translation. But I always go back to Neruda. I dont know why, but it calms me, calms my brain. – Tea Obreht