The subject of the poem usually dictates the rhythm or the rhyme and its form. Sometimes, when you finish the poem and you think the poem is finished, the poem says, "You're not finished with me yet," and you have to go back and revise, and you may have another poem altogether. It has its own life to live.

Remember, people will judge you by your actions not your intentions. You may have a heart of gold but so does a hard-boiled egg.

I think we ought to give ourselves more time. We should be more patient with ourselves and with each other.

If I could give you one thought, it would be to lift someone up. Lift a stranger up--lift her up. I would ask you, mother and father, brother and sister, lovers, mother and daughter, father and son, lift someone. The very idea of lifting someone up will lift you, as well.

My mother said I must always be intolerant of ignorance but understanding of illiteracy.

A rose by any other name may smell as sweet, but a woman called by a devaluing name will only be weakened by the misnomer.

Nothing will work unless you do.