I did not deceive him, he did not deceive me, I did not leave him, he did not leave me, I freed him, he freed me.

Well, one thing I'm really interested in, when I'm writing, is being accurate.

I'm not sure that the benefit - as a writer and as a citizen - that I would get from reading at least the front page of the Times every day or every other day would outweigh the depression.

Every poet I know - although there may be some I don't know who lead very different lives, who maybe live in the country and don't teach - tends to be just like the rest of us: just really busy, really overcommitted.

Writing or making anything-a poem, a bird feeder, a chocolate cake-has self-respect in it. You're working. You're trying. You're not lying down on the ground, having given up.

At one point I took on a new job, and I just didn't have time to do anything but work.

it is forbidden to love where we are not loved