Poetry helps my soul escape its encasement.

I live in an atmosphere of music.

Thank you, always say thank you; it's the greatest gift you can give someone; because thank you is what you say to God.

We write for the same reason that we walk, talk, climb mountains or swim the oceans - because we can. We have some impulse within us that makes us want to explain ourselves to other human beings.

Listen to some good poetry. You see? It keeps us from thinking we are only what our blatant appetites describe us as.

Love heals. Heals and liberates. I use the word love, not meaning sentimentality, but a condition so strong that it may be that which holds the stars in their heavenly positions and that which causes the blood to flow orderly in our veins.

Growing up, my grandmother did not want worldly music in the house. Then when I went out to California, I started listening to Spanish music, mostly Mexican music. But were I in Egypt, I would listen to the music of the people, or if I was in Italy, I'd listen to Italian music.