You're only as good as your last book.

We obviously need the truth. We're living in a country of lies.

The catchword I use with my classes is: The authority of the writer always overcomes the skepticism of the reader.

Writing is a conversation with reading; a dialogue with thinking. All conversations with older people contain repetition. Some of the ideas mean a lot to me, just interesting, so I both embrace and attack the ideas because I found them, well, delightful.

Poems don't have to rhyme... Poems are about beauty and emotion; in other words poems are about feelings.

Once you know who you are, you don't have to worry anymore.

Everything will change. The only question is growing up or decaying.