In my family in particular, I think, there was a sense we have to work twice as hard.

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

In terms of my marriage, you know, falling in love with my husband was by far the best thing that's ever happened to me.

I grew up in a household where reading was encouraged. My mother believed in the power of words, and my father obviously did too.

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

I think my mother... made it clear that you have to live life by your own terms and you have to not worry about what other people think and you have to have the courage to do the unexpected.

Well, I think, you know, the arts are really what - one of the things that make this country strong. We always think it's our economy or our military power, but in fact, I think it's our culture, our civilization, our ideas, our creativity.