I am a vigilant monarchist. I want to see things evolve. The direction the monarchy seems to be moving in - towards a more mainland-European model - is one I would feel sympathetic about.

I like eating out. I like buying beautiful paintings and being surrounded by beautiful things. I have to finance that life. I can barely afford a pension scheme because I don't make enough money.

I shall try to write a poem that is about the moment but doesn't betray things that are true to me as a poet.

I write between 5.30am and 9.00. That way, I hope I carry over something from my dream time.

But in a lot of ways my poems are very conventional, and it's no big deal for me to write a poem in either free verse or strict form; modern poets can, and do, do both.

But Wordsworth is the poet I admire above all others.

I am writing more than I have ever done. My life has come back to me in the most extraordinary way.