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.

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

For me, poetry is the music of being human. And also a time machine by which we can travel to who we are and to who we will become.

Time hates love, wants love poor,/but love spins gold, gold, gold from straw.

The stars are filming us for no one.

Auden said poetry makes nothing happen. But I wonder if the opposite could be true. It could make something happen.

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