I don't think I am any good. If I thought I was any good, I wouldn't be.

Topography is one of my chief themes in my poetry, about the country, the suburbs and the seaside. Then there comes love... and increasingly; the fear of death.

Hymns are the poetry of the people.

Now if the harvest is over, And the world cold, Give me the bonus of laughter, As I lose hold.

On out deathbeds we're not going to regret all the work we didn't do. We're going to regret all the sex we didn't have!

There are two thing you need for a jolly good hymn.The first is a set of words that expresses the mood or sentiment of the worshipper.The second-and perhaps even more important- is a good tune..with a simple popular melody.

People's backyards are much more interesting than their front gardens, and houses that back on to railways are public benefactors.