I swear to keep the dead upon my mind, / Disdain for all time to be overglad.

I've always thought of myself as a reporter. When people ask why I don't stop writing, I say, `Look at what's happening in this world. Every day there's something exciting or disturbing to write about.’ With all that's going on, how could I stop?

Live not for Battles Won. Live not for The-End-of-the-Song. Live in the along.

I don't like the idea of the black race being diluted out of existence. I like the idea of all of us being here.

Say to them, say to the down-keepers, the sun-slappers, the self-soilers, the harmony-hushers, "Even if you are not ready for day it cannot always be night." You will be right. For that is the hard home-run. Live not for battles won. Live not for the-end-of-the-song. Live in the along.

Be yourself. Don't imitate other poets. You are as important as they are.

I swear to keep the dead upon my mind, / Disdain for all time to be overglad.