There are hundreds of prisons - sexual, political, cultural. But being a prisoner also gives you impetus.

I've spent hundreds of hours working over words, and part of me, a large part of me, has a desire to do something else.

Teaching poetry, teaching as such, is worthy - if back breaking.

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.

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

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.

Bruce Smith is a tender master of music, and beautiful lines, and complex thoughts, and fascinating wild personal and cultural references.