What I wrote all the time when I was a kid - I don't want to call it 'poetry,' because it wasn't poetry. I was not that kind of a writer. I was a rhymer. I was a fan of Dorothy Parker's, so maybe I wrote poetry to that extent, but my main focus was the humor of it, and word construction, and the slant. Your words, it's a very powerful experience.

In this quote, Carrie Fisher reflects on her early writing experiences and her relationship with poetry. She clarifies that while she wrote verses as a child, she doesn't want to label it as poetry because she didn’t see herself as that kind of writer. Instead, Fisher describes herself as a rhymer, focusing on the humor in her writing, as well as the construction of words and the unique slant she could bring to them. She mentions her admiration for Dorothy Parker, known for her witty and sharp writing, indicating that her early work was more about cleverness and wordplay rather than traditional poetic structure.

Fisher’s acknowledgment of her influences, like Dorothy Parker, reveals her deep appreciation for humor as a tool for expression. Her main focus was not to write traditional poetry but to play with language in a way that made it entertaining, humorous, and impactful. She was more interested in the crafting of words and the way they could deliver a certain effect, using humor and wit as a means of creating powerful expressions.

The quote also emphasizes Fisher’s belief in the power of words. For her, language is not just a vehicle for communication, but an experience—one that can evoke emotions, entertain, and convey complex ideas. This view of words as a powerful tool reflects her broader approach to writing, where she used humor, sharp observations, and clever wordplay to create memorable and impactful writing.

Ultimately, Fisher’s quote showcases her unique approach to writing, where humor and wordplay take precedence over strict poetic form. She highlights the significance of the craft of writing and how, through the manipulation of language, writers can evoke both thought and emotion. For Fisher, writing was about experimenting with language and finding the humor in everyday experiences.