My flesh looked like it wasn't trying. It looked like it hated being part of me.

as the shadows assume shapes I fight the slow retreat now my once-promise dwindling dwindling now lighting new cigarettes pouring more drinks it has been a beautiful fight still is.

Poetry is what happens when nothing else can.

the grace is being able to like rock music, symphony music, jazz … anything that contains the original energy of joy.

Homosexuals are delicate and bad poetry is delicate and [Allen] Ginsberg turned the tables by making homosexual poetry strong poetry, almost manly poetry; but in the long run, the homo will remain the homo and not the poet.

First paycheck I get, I thought, I'm going to get myself a room near the downtown L.A. Public Library.

With me, my main vision for life was to avoid as many people as possible. The less people I saw the better I felt.