12 quotes
The authority of the writer always overcomes the skepticism of the reader.
The Authority of a Writer (2024)
Poetry is the culture of a people. We are poets even when we don’t write poems; just look at our life, our rhythms, our tenderness, our signifying, our sermons and our songs.
I'm a big fan of the black woman and so I'm always looking at aspects of the black woman--what she's doing and how she does it.
The Authority of a Writer (2024)
History is wonderful. We have so much we can learn if we would quit making ideology out of history, and just deal with what happened…
Nikki Giovanni: Interview (2008)
If I were advising someone on a writing career, the deal is this: write. If you get it published, good. If somebody pays you, better, because you have to eat, but the deal is you have to write.
The Authority of a Writer (2024)
Politics is personal. That, however, doesn’t mean it’s ideological. It means that one cares about what she or he is doing, what he or she is writing…
Nikki Giovanni: Interview (2008)
Black love is Black wealth and they'll
probably talk about my hard childhood
and never understand that
all the while I was quite happy
ego-tripping (2013)
You have to read the poem and say, “My god, that’s a good poem,” and kind of smile at yourself. If you’re not willing to do that, then you’re wasting your time, and you’re hurting yourself in another way because you’re trying to please somebody who doesn’t like you. You don’t want to get in that position.
As a writer, one has to be willing to be wrong, willing to make mistakes. I’ve put everything on the table and accepted the fact that I may come up short. And, if (or when) I do, that’s okay.
Nikki Giovanni: Interview (2008)
...i believe
the most beautiful poem
...is your heart
racing
The Women and The Men (1970)
...how else
to spend
a rainy day
other than with you
seeking sun and stars
and heavenly bodies
The Women and The Men (1970)
Poets shouldn't commit suicide. That would leave the world to those without imaginations or hearts. That would bequeath to the world a mangled syntax and no love of champagne. Poets must live in misery and ecstasy, to sing a song with the katydids. Poets should be ashamed to die before they kiss the sun.