Muriel Rukeyser

Date of Birth: December 15, 1913

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

Date of Death: February 12, 1980

Biography

Muriel Rukeyser was an influential American poet and political activist, widely known for her work that intertwines themes of social justice, feminism, and personal experience. Born in New York City, Rukeyser’s poetry often reflected her passionate engagement with the political movements and events of her time. She attended Vassar College and later Columbia University but left without graduating. Her first collection, “Theory of Flight,” was published in 1935 when she was just 21 years old, winning the Yale Younger Poets Prize. Over the next several decades, Rukeyser’s poetry continued to evolve, addressing issues such as civil rights, war, and the marginalization of women. She was also a biographer, writing about figures such as Willard Gibbs and the Vietnamese poet Hồ Xuân Hương. Rukeyser’s activism was not confined to her writing. She was involved in numerous political causes, including the Spanish Civil War, the labor movement, and the anti-war protests of the 1960s. She was openly bisexual, and her work often explored themes of sexual identity and liberation. Rukeyser taught at several institutions, including Sarah Lawrence College, and was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Her work has left an indelible mark on American poetry and continues to inspire new generations of poets and activists.

5 Interesting Facts about Muriel Rukeyser

1. Muriel Rukeyser won the Yale Younger Poets Prize for her first collection, “Theory of Flight,” in 1935.

2. She was an outspoken political activist, involved in the Spanish Civil War, the labor movement, and the anti-war protests of the 1960s.

3. Rukeyser was openly bisexual and her work often explored themes of sexual identity and liberation.

4. She wrote biographies of notable figures, including the American scientist Willard Gibbs and the Vietnamese poet Hồ Xuân Hương.

5. Rukeyser taught at Sarah Lawrence College and was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Muriel Rukeyser

1. “The universe is made of stories, not of atoms.”

2. “Breathe-in experience, breathe-out poetry.”

3. “The journey is my home.”

4. “If there were no poetry on any day in the world, poetry would be invented that day. For there would be an intolerable hunger.”

5. “However confused the scene of our life appears, however torn we may be who now do face that scene, it can be faced, and we can go on to be whole.”