American poetry, like American painting, is always personal with an emphasis on the individuality of the poet. – 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

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