That attitude that fighting is probably not fair, but you have to defend yourself anyway and damage the enemy, has been profoundly consequential as far as my political activism goes.

I am a stranger, learning to love the strangers around me

To believe is to become what you believe.

The first function of poetry is to tell the truth, to learn how to do that, to find out what you really feel and what you really think

... the histories of Blacks and Jews in bondage and out of bondage, have been blood histories pursued through our kindred searchings for self-determination. Let this blood be a stain of honor that we share. Let us not now become enemies to ourselves and to each other.

I think I have come to a place where I'm able to feel more comfortable about being honest.

To begin is no more agony than opening your hand.