Meaning: Rita Dove, an accomplished poet, has provided a fascinating insight into her creative process with this quote. The act of keeping drafts of each poem in color-coded folders reveals a unique and personal approach to organizing and accessing her work. This method not only suggests a strong connection between emotions and colors but also offers a glimpse into the way Dove intertwines her feelings with the creative evolution of her poems.

The use of color-coded folders indicates an intentional and thoughtful system for managing her poetic drafts. This approach suggests that Dove may attribute specific emotions or moods to different colors, allowing her to make a deliberate choice when engaging with her work. By picking up the folders according to how she feels about that color on a particular day, Dove demonstrates an intimate and intuitive relationship with her poetry, as well as a sensitivity to her own emotional state. This practice may infuse her creative process with a fluidity and responsiveness that reflects her ever-changing emotional landscape.

The idea of associating emotions with colors is not a new concept. Throughout history, different colors have been linked to specific emotions and meanings. For example, blue is often associated with tranquility and introspection, while red is linked to passion and intensity. By leveraging this age-old association, Dove may be using color as a tool to harness and channel her emotions during the writing and revising stages of her poetry. This personalized approach not only adds a layer of depth to her creative process but also suggests a deep connection between her inner world and the outward expression of her art.

Furthermore, the act of selecting a folder based on her feelings about a particular color on a given day implies a sense of spontaneity and responsiveness in Dove's creative process. This approach hints at the fluid and dynamic nature of her engagement with her work, suggesting that she allows her emotional state to guide her interaction with her poetry. By granting herself the freedom to be influenced by her current emotional landscape, Dove may be inviting a sense of authenticity and vulnerability into her writing, allowing her work to reflect her genuine emotional experiences.

Dove's method of organizing her poetic drafts also highlights the importance of the visual and tactile elements in her creative process. The use of color-coded folders not only serves as a practical organizational tool but also introduces a visual and tactile dimension to the act of revisiting her work. The physical act of selecting a folder based on its color may serve as a sensory trigger, evoking specific emotional responses and memories associated with the poems contained within. This multisensory approach to engaging with her drafts suggests that Dove's creative process extends beyond the purely intellectual realm, incorporating sensory and emotional stimuli to inform and shape her poetry.

In conclusion, Rita Dove's quote provides a captivating glimpse into the intersection of emotion, organization, and creativity in her poetic process. By employing color-coded folders and allowing her feelings about specific colors to guide her engagement with her work, Dove demonstrates a deeply personal and intuitive approach to writing and revising her poetry. This method not only reflects a strong connection between her emotional state and her creative output but also suggests a rich sensory and emotional landscape that informs and shapes her art. Overall, Dove's practice serves as a reminder of the diverse and individualized approaches to creative expression, offering a unique perspective on the intricate relationship between emotion and artistic creation.