At the very beginning when I begin writing a poem I try not to think of the audience or anyone at all except for trying to get at the very center of what is driving that poem. In a way it's like analyzing myself.

Being Poet Laureate made me realize I was capable of a larger voice. There is a more public utterance I can make as a poet.

I've always felt that the poems I've written which have historical context are hopefully not just simply plucking something out of history and saying great, let's write about that. In every case what has happened is that I've become fascinated or haunted by something and couldn't shake it.

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

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.

I didn't know writers could be real live people, because I never knew any writers.

My childhood library was small enough not to be intimidating. And yet I felt the whole world was contained in those two rooms. I could walk any aisle and smell wisdom.