And in a way, that's been a help to me, because I take great passions for a particular poet - sometimes it lasts for many years, sometimes only for a while. This happens to everybody.

When I talk of hearing a poet's voice speaking, I always think of it as in the presence of the man.

Anybody who writes doesn't like to be misunderstood.

It's like breathing in and out to me. It's like having a conversation with someone who isn't there. Because it has to be addressed to somebody - not a particular person, or very rarely.

When I go fishing I like to know that there's nobody within five miles of me.

But you'd have a job to find many of my poems which would seem to be very influenced by a particular person.

I used to fish the Border rivers, but nowadays you have to queue up for a shot and I can't stand that.