I know how important it is to, you know, to be my own person.

I never thought I'd be doing poetry books. I never really studied poetry. But the first one I did was after my mother died, and I realized that people sort of think and talk about her style and fashion, but in fact, what made her the person she was was really her love of reading and ideas.

Well I've been writing books. So that, by its nature, is kind of a solitary occupation. And from time to time I have research help, but mostly I've done those completely on my own.

Going into politics is something people have asked me about forever.

The biggest problem is people are afraid of poetry, think they can't understand it or that it will be boring.

I think that the presidency really brings out the best in a lot of people.

The most beautiful people are all in the library.