Poetry puts starch in your backbone so you can stand, so you can compose your life.

The truth brings the past into the present and prepares us for the future. That's what truth does

I find it interesting that the meanest life, the poorest existence, is attributed to God's will, but as human beings become more affluent, as their living standard and style begin to ascend the material scale, God descends the scale of responsibility at commensurate speed.

I know why the caged bird sings.

You will face many defeats in your life, but never let yourself be defeated.

I am never proud to participate in violence, yet I know that each of us must care enough for ourselves that we can be ready and able to come to our own defence when and wherever needed.

We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated. It may even be necessary to encounter the defeat, so that we can know who we are.