To describe my mother would be to write about a hurricane in its perfect power. Or the climbing, falling colors of a rainbow.

If I'm going to a new country, I try to learn something about the language and the culture, so I don't just go bumbling over things.

I think the more we know the better we are. I mean not just facts. The more we know about each other, the closer we are to learn something about our selves.

The loss of young first love is so painful that it borders on the ludicrous.

When you wish someone joy, you wish them peace, love, prosperity, happiness... all the good things.

Laugh and dare to try to love somebody, starting with yourself. You must love yourself first, of course, and you must protect yourself so that nobody overrides you, overrules you, or steps on you. Just say, 'Just a minute. I'm worth everything, dear.'

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