My mother had no end of tragedy in her life. She would make herself get up and take a deep breath and go out and do laundry. Hang up sheets.

I was so used to doing art that my fingers were like albino spiders. So it was just natural for me to go to a typewriter and write poetry.

I got my style from a lot of different people, even my style of reading, even Johnny Carson inspired me.

I think it's good for people to see the positive beauty that can flower from the deepest grieving.

The film [Dream of Life] looks at a time in my life.

I reflected on the fact that no matter how good I aspired to be, I was never going to achieve perfection

Art is by nature optimistic. Art is optimistic because it is alive.