The poetry that sustains me is when I feel that, for a minute, the clouds have parted and I've seen ecstasy or something

What's a word, a talisman, to hold against the world?

I was pirouette and flourish, I was filigree and flame. How could I count my blessings when I didn't know their names?

I keep the drafts of each poem in color-coded folders. I pick up the folders according to how I feel about that color that day.

If only the sun-drenched celebrities are being noticed and worshiped, then our children are going to have a tough time seeing the value in the shadows, where the thinkers, probers and scientists are keeping society together.

Listen how they say your name. If they can't say that right, there's no way they're going to know how to treat you proper, neither.

My favorite poets may not be your bread and butter. I have more favorite poems than favorite poets.