Now, the process of writing poetry is very messy. Not systematic, never quite the same

I would keep in mind to a young poet that you are entering into something that is very important, that has always been important in terms of human concerns.

Now, I do say, "It's possible. You might be the first. I'm not saying it's impossible, but the odds are very much against you." All great poets have been great readers and the way to learn your craft in poetry is by reading other poetry and by letting it guide you.

I think one of the things that distinguished my work from the beginning when I was in college was my turning towards poetry from other countries.

I put down these memorandums of my affections in honor of tenderness, in honor of all of those who have been conscripted into the brotherhood of loss.

So, some of the most difficult formal poems that I've written, say one sentence sonnets, I've been able to do those fairly quickly whereas some of the clearest, simplest lyrics that I've written have taken me the longest to get to the clarity of feeling that you're looking for.

I think it's true that that's something that poetry can go to school on fiction. I think poetry can go to fiction to learn.