I made myself into a poet because it was the first thing I really loved. It was an act of will.
If the poetry world celebrate its female stars at the true level of their productivity and influence, poetry would wind up being a largely female world, and the men would leave.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the significant contribution of women in poetry and suggests that recognition could shift the dynamics of the poetry world.
Eileen Myles emphasizes the idea that if women's contributions to poetry were genuinely celebrated and acknowledged, the landscape of the poetry world would transform to reflect their influence and productivity. This observation points out not only the gender disparity in recognition but also poses a provocative scenario where men might retreat if women's voices dominate the field, challenging societal norms around authorship and appreciation in the arts.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During a literature festival celebrating female authors, this quote could be shared to emphasize the importance of recognizing women's contributions.
More from Eileen Myles
All quotes →The poet’s life is just so much crenellated waste, nights and days whipping swiftly or laboriously past the cinematic window. We’re hunched and weaving over the keys of our green our grey or pink blue manual typewriter maybe a darker stone cold thoritative selectric with its orgasmic expectant hum and us popping pills and laughing over what you or I just wrote, wondering if that line means insult or sex. Or both. Usually both.
Similar quotes
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I decided to sell my drawings. However, I didn't want people to buy my drawings because the professor of physics isn't supposed to be able to draw - isn't that wonderful - so I made up a false name.
Staring Girl I once knew a girl who would just stand there and stare. At anyone or anything, she seemed not to care She'd stare at the ground, She'd stare at the sky. She'd stare at you for hours, and you'd never know why. But after winning the local staring contest, she finally gave her eyes a well-deserved rest.
Emily Dickinson never developed. She remained loyal to her persona and to that same little metrical song that stood her in such good stead. She is a striking example of complexity within a simple package. Her rhymes are like bows on the package.
I'm always struck by the kids who turn up in New York and LA, and places in between. Chicago. Wanting to do theater, wanting to do independent film. Wanting to break into television or radio.
An artist is someone who uses bravery, insight, creativity, and boldness to challenge the status quo. And an artist takes it personally.