US poet laureate says poetry is his life’s pivot

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — U.S. Poet Laureate Charles Wright says poetry has been the pivot around which his life has turned for 50 years.

Wright tells The Daily Progress (http://bit.ly/1uwcC2Z ) that poetry focuses his questions and longing about things.

Wright calls himself a visual poet. He says everything that he writes almost always starts with something he sees.

The 79-year-old retired University of Virginia professor assumed the poet laureate’s job last week. The Library of Congress chose Wright to succeed Natasha Trethewey in June.

Wright began writing poetry while he was stationed in Italy with the U.S. Army, inspired by the work of Ezra Pound.

The native of Pickwick Dam, Tennessee, says young poets should pay attention, stay curious and read as much poetry as they can.

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Information from: The Daily Progress, http://www.dailyprogress.com

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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