I have left out what I don't remember or don't know. Temperament, fear, shyness, obedience, kindness.

Attachment has to do with suffering, so it's really close to Buddhism, because Buddhism wants to relieve you from suffering; you're supposed to escape from suffering.

If the Buddhist's job is to be detached, I think that the artist's job is to be both detached and attached.

Political means so many things. We are political willy-nilly. Political poetry is an easy invitation to disaster. But then so is love poetry. But we are a little more patient with bad love poetry.

The act of writing itself isn't outrageous. And the institution subtly and insidiously works on you in such a way that though you seem to have freedom you become a servant. Your main issue is to get promoted to the next thing. Or get invited to a picnic. Or get tenure. Or get laid.

Some poems are art because of their passion.

Sometimes a person thinks he's attached to one thing and he's really attached to something else.