What actually makes poetry poetry is of course impossible to define. We recognize it when we hear it, when we see it, but we can't define it.

I considered going to film school; I took a course in film and was very interested in filmmaking as well as film writing.

The Black Mountain poet I like most is the early Creeley. Those early poems seem very lyrical and very traditional, with a lot of voice and character.

I encourage students to pursue an idea far enough so they can see what the cliches and stereotypes are. Only then do they begin to hit pay dirt.

If a poem is not memorable, there's probably something wrong. One of the problems of free verse is that much of the free verse poetry is not memorable.

With prose you can incorporate more details, develop scenes, sustain the tension in a special way. Prose has its own speed.

If people associate me with a region, that's fine with me.