A lot of manuscripts that come in, you wonder by what outrageous fantasy the author believes that this should be pressed into print.

Freedom of speech is always under attack by Fascist mentality, which exists in all parts of the world, unfortunately.

If you're too open-minded; your brains will fall out.

In Plato's republic, poets were considered subversive, a danger to the republic. I kind of relish that role. So I see my present role as a gadfly, to use my soapbox to promote my various ideas and obsesions.

T.S. Eliot's influence was enormous on my generation. Much more than Ezra Pound. I actually had to put T.S. Eliot books out of the house because my poetry was so influenced. Everything I wrote sounded like Eliot.

We have to raise the consciousness; the only way poets can change the world is to raise the consciousness of the general populace.

Don't bow down to critics who have not themselves written great masterpieces.