The moment of inspiration can come from memory, or language, or the imagination, or experience - anything that makes an impression forcibly enough for language to form.

I think the dangers are different now. Our abuse of the planet and our resources is an anxiety.

Poetry and prayer are very similar.

Having a child takes you back to all those parts of your own childhood that you had hidden away.

If I felt, in the event of a royal wedding, inspired to write about people coming together in marriage or civil partnership, I would just be grateful to have an idea for the poem. And if I didn't, I'd ignore it.

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

Christmas is taken very seriously in this household. I believe in Father Christmas and there's no way I'd do anything to undermine that belief.