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.

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

I always wanted a child. Being a mother is the central thing in my life.

I like to use simple words, but in a complicated way.

I still read Donne, particularly his love poems

I have piles of poetry books in the bathroom, on the stairs, everywhere. The only way to write poetry is to read it.

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.