A Quote by William A. Henry III

A poet laureate of adolescent sexuality and middle-age longing.

William A. Henry III

Quote Topics

Adolescent Age Laureate Longing Middle Poet Poet Laureate Sexuality

Quote Author

William A. Henry III
American - Critic
January 14, 1950 - June 28, 1994

It is a tremendous honor to be named poet laureate, but one that I find humbling as well, because it's the kind of thing that makes me feel like - even as it's been bestowed upon me - I must continue to live up to what it means... Being the younger laureate in the age of social media is a new challenge.

Natasha Trethewey

Novelist and poet David Huddle is a quiet but fabulous writer, and he does adolescent longing better than anyone I know.

Rebecca Makkai

Being Poet Laureate made me realize I was capable of a larger voice. There is a more public utterance I can make as a poet.

Rita Dove

I certainly was surprised to be named Poet Laureate of this far-out city on the left side of the world, and I gratefully accept, for as I told the Mayor, "How could I refuse?" I'd rather be Poet Laureate of San Francisco than anywhere because this city has always been a poetic center, a frontier for free poetic life, with perhaps more poets and more poetry readers than any city in the world.

Lawrence Ferlinghetti

It wasn't until I was named Youth Poet Laureate of L.A. in high school though that I officially began calling myself a poet. I just always loved writing, period.

Amanda Gorman

I am honoured to have the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of my esteemed colleague and fellow poet Mr. Dennis Lee, it will be with pride and passion that I carry forward the mandate of the Poet Laureate position for the City of Toronto and its residents.

Pier Giorgio Di Cicco

I was appointed Poet Laureate. It came totally out of the blue because most Poet Laureates had been considerably older than I. It was not something that I even had begun to dream about!

Rita Dove

As poet laureate, I was asked to be a spokesman for literature.

Robert Hass

I would love to be the poet laureate of Coney Island.

Thornton Wilder

I knew if I lived long enough I would be poet laureate of something.

Patti Smith

I know some people might think it odd - unworthy even - for me to have written a cookbook, but I make no apologies. The U.S. poet laureate Billy Collins thought I had demeaned myself by writing poetry for Hallmark Cards, but I am the people's poet so I write for the people.