In the late 60s and early 70s, I did get interested in voices, and in narration and embodying the voice, making the poem sound like a real person talking.

I seem to keep returning to my father in poems because his personality was so extreme, so driven. He did everything to excess.

A poem in form still has to have voice, gesture, a sense of discovery, a metaphoric connection, as any poetry does.

I learned to impersonate the kind of person that talks about poetry. It comes from teaching, I think.

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 love to create interesting textures with language. You can do it as long as it seems like a discovery.

Teaching writing over the years intrudes on your own writing in important ways, taking away some of the excitement of poetry.