There is far too much literary criticism of the wrong kind. That is why I never could have survived as an academic.

I have always made my own rules, in poetry as in life - though I have tried of late to cooperate more with my family. I do, however, believe that without order or pattern poetry is useless.

A poem might be defined as thinking about feelings - about human feelings and frailties.

Each word bears its weight, so you have to read my poems quite slowly.

democracy is dying. We are ruled by faceless bureaucrats and lecherous puritans. ... You think about it. 'All right for me but not for you' is their philosophy.

I think a poet, like a painter, should be a craftsperson.

I don't like poetry that just slaps violent words on a canvas, as it were.