Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness.

I will write on the pages of history what I want them to say. I will be myself. I will speak my own name.

You can't get too high for somebody to bring you down.

One must know not just how to accept a gift, but with what grace to share it.

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

If you have only one smile in you give it to the people you love.

I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.