I donโt believe that a reviewer or a critic can really criticize well unless he can praise well.
James DickeyWe've always had a tradition in America of hounding our artists to death. Look at the list of our great artists, you see a continual history of defeat, frustration, poverty, alcoholism, drug addiction. The best poets of my generation are all suicides.
James DickeyI need about one hundred fifty drafts of a poem to get it right, and fifty more to make it sound spontaneous.
James DickeyI feel very happy to see the sun come up every day. I feel happy to be around. ... I like to take this day- any day-and go to town with it.
James Dickey