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

Poems are a hotline to our hearts, and we forget this emotional power at our peril

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.

Each sudden gust of light explains itself as flames, but neither they, nor even bombs redoubled on the hills tonight can quite include me in their fear.

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.

Honor the miraculousness of the ordinary.

I get up at 5.30am, sluice myself and have two Weetabix and some mint tea, before starting to write by 6am.