In a fragile environment, we need to be aware of ourselves as members of a uniquely powerful species living among other species who are quite as interesting as we are but vulnerable to us because we are cleverer in more destructive ways.

I don't want my poems to be sentimental, though I do acknowledge that sentiment is probably rather under-reported in a lot of people's feelings a lot of the time.

But I can't and don't ever want to write bell-yanking confetti-tossing hat-throwing poems.

Jenni Fagan is the real thing, and The Panopticon is a real treat: maturely alive to the pains of maturing, and cleverly amused as well as appalled by what it finds in the world.

I'm ensuring my place in heaven.

Honor the miraculousness of the ordinary.

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.