How Weightless/ Words Are When Nothing Will

There'll Always Be Working People In My Poems Because I Grew Up With Them, And I Am A Poet Of Memory.

I Still Believe In This Country, That It Can Fulfill The Destiny Blake And Whitman Envisioned. I Still Believe In American Poetry.

My Temperament Is Not Geared To That Of A Novelist.

I Listen To Jazz About Three Hours A Day. I Love Louis Armstrong.

Corruption Is Subtle, Just Like The Bible Said. Many Young Poets Have Come To Me And Asked, How Am I Gonna Make It? They Feel, And Often With Considerable Justice, That They Are Being Overlooked While Others With Less Talent Are Out There Making Careers For Themselves. I Always Give The Same Advice. I Say, Do It The Hard Way, And You’ll Always Feel Good About Yourself. You Write Because You Have To, And You Get This Unbelievable Satisfaction From Doing It Well. Try To Live On That As Long As You’re Able.