Carolyn Kizer

Date of Birth: December 10, 1925

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

Date of Death: October 9, 2014

Biography

Carolyn Kizer was an esteemed American poet, born in Spokane, Washington. She was renowned for her sharp wit, keen observations, and lyrical mastery. Kizer’s work often explored themes of feminism, politics, and the human condition, earning her a prominent place in the world of contemporary poetry. Her literary journey began at an early age, influenced by her mother, a poet and a professor, and her father, a lawyer who loved literature. Kizer attended Sarah Lawrence College and later studied at Columbia University. She was the founding editor of Poetry Northwest, a position she held from 1959 to 1965. Her poetry collection “Yin” won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1985. Kizer was also known for her translations of Chinese poetry and her advocacy for women’s rights. Throughout her career, Kizer held various academic positions and served as a chancellor of the Academy of American Poets. She passed away on October 9, 2014, leaving behind a legacy of powerful and evocative poetry.

5 Interesting Facts about Carolyn Kizer

1. Carolyn Kizer won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1985 for her collection “Yin.”

2. She was the founding editor of Poetry Northwest from 1959 to 1965.

3. Kizer was an advocate for women’s rights and often explored feminist themes in her work.

4. She translated works of Chinese poetry, bringing them to a broader English-speaking audience.

5. Kizer served as a chancellor of the Academy of American Poets.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Carolyn Kizer

1. “Poetry is a way of taking life by the throat.”

2. “I think of myself as a poet who writes essays, not as an essayist who writes poems.”

3. “A poet’s work is to name the unnameable, to point at frauds, to take sides, to start arguments, to shape the world, and to stop it going to sleep.”

4. “What is the language using us for? It uses us all and in its turn is used by us, but it uses us.”

5. “Writing is a way of talking without being interrupted.”