I believe in kindness. Also in mischief. Also in singing, especially when singing is not necessarily prescribed.

And it can keep you as busy as anything else, and happier.

I think one thing is that prayer has become more useful, interesting, fruitful, and... almost involuntary in my life.

To live in this world, you must be able to do three things: to love what is mortal; to hold it against your bones knowing your own life depends on it; and, when the time comes to let it go, to let it go.

There were times over the years when life was not easy, but if you're working a few hours a day and you've got a good book to read, and you can go outside to the beach and dig for clams, you're okay.

On poetry: Everyone wants to know what it means. But nobody is asking, How does it feel?

At Blackwater Pond the tossed waters have settled after a night of rain. I dip my cupped hands. I drink a long time. It tastes like stone, leaves, fire. It falls cold into my body, waking the bones. I hear them deep inside me, whispering oh what is that beautiful thing that just happened?