One has to work very carefully with what is in between the words. What is not said. Which is measure, which is rhythm and so on. So, it is what you don't write that frequently gives what you do write its power.

To get to a place where you could love anything you chose--not to need permission for desire--well now _that_ was freedom.

I couldn't bear to have people mispronounce my name. But the person I was was this person who was called Chloe.

I don't think I knew any of my father's friends - male friends - by their real names. I remember them only by their nicknames.

In becoming an American, from Europe, what one has in common with that other immigrant is contempt for me-it's nothing else but color.

I dream a dream that dreams back at me.

The body is ready to have babies. Nature wants it done then, when the body can handle it, not after 40, when the income can handle it.