My rejection of the idea of entertainment in its current form is based on the audience that comes with it.

I learned enough Hebrew to stagger through a meaningless ceremony that I scarcely remember.

I wanted to be an inventor, whatever I thought that meant then. I guess I was thinking of Edison or maybe James Watt. Or maybe even Newton.

My mother turned into a professional widow. She couldnt understand why I wanted to be an engineer; she thought I should be a chicken farmer.

I reserve the right to tell shaggy dog stories or even common jokes as part of what I'm doing. I don't give a damn if half the audience walks out.

I was very committed to the process of composing, working at poems, putting things together and taking them apart like some kind of experimental filmmaker.

While I've had a great distaste for what's usually called song in modern poetry or for what's usually called music, I really don't think of speech as so far from song.