I Was Appointed Poet Laureate. It Came

If They Don't Read, If They Don't Love Reading; If They Don't Find Themselves Compulsively Reading, I Don't Think They're Really A Writer

I Never Think Of My Audience When I Write A Poem. I Try To Write Out Of Whatever Is Haunting Me; In Order For A Poem To Feel Authentic, I Have To Feel I'm Treading On Very Dangerous Ground, Which Can Mean That The Resulting Revelations May Prove Hurtful To Other People. The Time For Thinking About That Kind Of Guilt Or Any Collective Sense Of Responsibility, However, Occurs Much Later In The Creative Process, After The Poem Is Finished.

I Think Children Have Talent And Insight, But It Gets Beaten Out Of Them.

I Was Pirouette And Flourish, I Was Filigree And Flame. How Could I Count My Blessings When I Didn't Know Their Names?

My Favorite Poets May Not Be Your Bread And Butter. I Have More Favorite Poems Than Favorite Poets.