My poems are almost all written as Diane. I don't have any problems with that, and if other women choose to identify with this, I think that's terrific. Diane Wakoski choosedianeidentify Change image and share on social
I do not read newspapers. I do not watch television. I am not interested in current events, although I will occasionally discuss them if other people want to discuss them. Diane Wakoski currentdiscussevent Change image and share on social
I think one of the things that language poets are very involved with is getting away from conventional ideas of beauty, because those ideas contain a certain attitude toward women, certain attitudes toward sex, certain attitudes toward race, etc. Diane Wakoski attitudebeautyconventional share on social
So, I've never been politically correct, even before that term was available to us, and I have really identified with other people who don't want to be read as just a black poet, or just a woman poet, or just someone who represents a cause, an anti-Vietnam war poet. Diane Wakoski antiblackcorrect share on social
Distinctly American poetry is usually written in the context of one's geographic landscape, sometimes out of one's cultural myths, and often with reference to gender and race or ethnic origins. Diane Wakoski americancontextcultural Change image and share on social
I don't like political poetry, and I don't write it. If this question was pointing towards that, I think it is missing the point of the American tradition, which is always apolitical, even when the poetry comes out of politically active writers. Diane Wakoski activeamericanapolitical share on social
Still, language is resilient, and poetry when it is pressured simply goes underground. Diane Wakoski languagepoetrypressure Change image and share on social
I'm perfectly happy when I look out at an audience and it's all women. I always think it's kind of odd, but then, more women than men, I think, read and write poetry. Diane Wakoski audiencehappykind Change image and share on social
American poetry, like American painting, is always personal with an emphasis on the individuality of the poet. Diane Wakoski americanemphasisindividuality Change image and share on social
I think that's 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 commonidentifyinterior Change image and share on social
