Poets can tell the truth as they see it. It’s the author’s story, the author’s voice.

Now, everything I do, I do because I want to. And I believe the best is yet to come.

If you are sitting there waiting for someone to tell you how wonderful you are, you'll never get anything done. Women need to get over being women. I'm tired of that socialization of women; that we are always supposed to be sitting around pleasing somebody.

I’m a big fan of history—applying the lessons as well as the joys and sadness. If we pay attention, we would see how we affect each other. In terms of time, we are not that far from one another. If we were to look back a century, it would seem like a long time; but, if we look at it by decades then it’s only 10 years, and by generations it’s only five.

I don't have a life-style, I have a life.

I think that too many strangers were in her [Nina Simone's] life, and not enough people that she knew and loved.

I'm glad I understand that while language is a gift, listening is a responsibility. (U.S. poet and writer, 1943- )