I want to be clear about this. If you wrote from experience, you'd get maybe one book, maybe three poems. Writers write from empathy.
Nikki GiovanniRead
Favorite poems are like favorite children. We definitely have them but we never tell as the others would have their feelings hurt.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Favorite poems evoke strong emotional connections similar to our favorite children, though we may not openly express these preferences to avoid hurting others' feelings.
This quote reflects the intimate and often personal relationship we have with art, particularly poetry. Just like parents might have a favorite child, individuals often hold certain poems closer to their hearts due to their emotional resonance or personal significance. However, the act of sharing this favoritism can be sensitive, as it may imply a rejection of other valuable works or sentiments, showing the complexity of our attachments in both art and interpersonal relationships.
Themes
PoetryFavoritesEmotionArtRelationships
In practice
Example use cases
During a poetry reading, one might quote this to illustrate the personal nature of poetic preferences.
More from Nikki Giovanni
All quotes βA lot of people resist transition and therefore never allow themselves to enjoy who they are. Embrace the change, no matter what it is; once you do, you can learn about the new world you're in and take advantage of it.
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Art is not for the cultivated taste. It is to cultivate taste.
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Style has a profound meaning to Black Americans. If we canβt drive, we will invent walks and the world will envy the dexterity of our feet. If we canβt have ham, we will boil chitterlings; if we are given rotten peaches, we will make cobblers; if given scraps, we will make quilts; take away our drums, and we will clap our hands. We prove the human spirit will prevail. We will take what we have to make what we need. We need confidence in our knowledge of who we are.
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If you were a pure bolt of fire-cutting the skies I'd touch you-risking my life-not because I'm brave or strong, but because I'm fascinated by what the outcome would be.
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Don't want to be near you for the thoughts we share but the words we never have to speak.
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