we all carry the Houses of our Youth inside, and our Parents, too, grown small enough to fit within our Hearts.

Perhaps every generation thinks of itself as a lost generation and perhaps every generation is right.

I remember everything but forgive anyway.

At certain historic moments, grandparents took on childrearing responsibilities. In many cultures, they still do. Chinese grandparents who are able to retire at 55 are seen all over Beijing bouncing grandbabies. In the United States, we can't afford to retire at 55.

A dreary censorship, and self-censorship, has been imposed on books by the centralization of the book industry.

... what is great poetry, after all, but the continuation of the human voice after death?

Despite all the cynical things writers have said about writing for money, the truth is we write for love. That is why it is so easy to exploit us.