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

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

If they don't read, if they don't love reading; if they don't find themselves compulsively reading, I don't think they're really a writer

It's unfortunate that sometimes in schools, there's this need to have things quantified and graded.

People write me from all over the country, asking me, and sometimes even telling me, what they think a poet laureate should do. I found that immensely valuable.

Being true to yourself really means being true to all the complexities of the human spirit.

Poetry connects you to yourself, to the self that doesn't know how to talk or negotiate.