Otherwise I don't read much adult poetry at all, because I'm not smart enough and mostly I don't get it.

I write the poems first, with only a few exceptions for odd reasons, where I'm given the illustration first.

I'm mostly influenced by life, what's around me, and my own childhood.

Children seem naturally drawn to poetry - it's some combination of the rhyme, rhythm, and the words themselves.

I look for poetry in English because it's the only language I read.

We all need ways to express ourselves, and poetry is one of mine.

Writing gives me the opportunity to explore ideas, play with language, solve problems, use my imagination, and draw on my own childhood.