I always say that I'll have a go and see whether the poem works and if it does, then fine.

I think poetry can help children deal with the other subjects on the curriculum by enabling them to see a subject in a new way.

My prose is turgid, it just hasn't got any energy

If we think of what's up ahead, with climate change and wars over water, it's very frightening.

She stood upon a continent of ice, which sparkled between sea and sky, endless and dazzling, as though the world kept all its treasure there; a scale which balanced poetry and prayer.

Every day is a gift with a child, no matter what problems you have.

I grew up in a bookless house - my parents didn't read poetry, so if I hadn't had the chance to experience it at school I'd never have experienced it. But I loved English, and I was very lucky in that I had inspirational English teachers, Miss Scriven and Mr. Walker, and they liked us to learn poems by heart, which I found I loved doing.