“I had never met a poet in my life before winning the Pulitzer in 1945. Well, that’s not strictly true; when I went to Johns Hopkins in 1939, W. H. Auden gave a private reading to a group of special literature students, and I was one. I shook hands with him. As it happened, at that time he was my idol, above all others as a modern poet, and that experience was a very sustaining one. But I could hardly say I “knew” him.”

—  Karl Shapiro

Paris Review interview (1986)

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

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Poet, essayist 1913–2000

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