To me, a poem is almost like someone whispering to another person, or you hear the whispering in your head. I hope with my own poems that the reader feels a connection, soul to soul, that'll help us all feel a little less alone on the planet. And it does have the power to direct change. A writer can make the word 'dark' be something positive. You can relieve a word like 'hysterical' of its misogynistic implications. You can make the language your own. That's what poetry is about.
Rita DoveA good poem is like a bouillon cube. It's concentrated and it nourishes you when you need it.
Rita DoveI try to show what it is about language and music that enthralls, because I think those are the two elements of poetry.
Rita Dove