The more that accrues, the more depth, weight, and breadth we can bring to the poems, which we then need to throw overboard so we don't sink.

The more that accrues, the more depth, weight, and breadth we can bring to the poems, which we then need to throw overboard so we don't sink.

I share my life experiences as a poet with my students. My poetic difficulties, joys, struggles and discoveries. If I read a new poem or essay or book I'm excited about, I bring it in.

W.S Merwin says "after three days of rain" and I write "After Twelve Days of Rain." I like his quietude. I admire his ability to be simple without being simplistic.

There is so much about the process of writing that is mysterious to me, but this one thing I've found to be true: writing begets writing.

Good writing works from a simple premise: your experience is not yours alone, but in some sense a metaphor for everyone's.

Every good poem asks a question, and every good poet asks every question.