Children do live in fantasy and reality; they move back and forth very easily in a way we no longer remember how to do.

My sister had her own room. She also had innumerable boyfriends. I had a yo-yo collection that was beyond belief, and the reason I had it was mostly that I would stand in the doorway of the living room watching her and her boyfriend. Finally she caught on how to get this kid out of the way. Give him a yo-yo!

I'm writing a poem right now about a nose. I've always wanted to write a poem about a nose. But it's a ludicrous subject. That's why, when I was younger, I was afraid of [writing] something that didn't make a lot of sense. But now I'm not. I have nothing to worry about. It doesn't matter.

Knowledge is the driving force that puts creative passion to work.

And it is through fantasy that children achieve catharsis. It is the best means they have for taming Wild Things.

All I wanted was to be straight so my parents could be happy. They never, never, never knew.

William Blake really is important, my cornerstone. Nobody ever told me before he did that childhood was such a damned serious business.