There is no such thing as writer's block for writers whose standards are low enough.

A poem is a serious joke, a truth that has learned jujitsu.

Some people are blinded by their experience. Soldiers know how important war is. Owners of slaves learn every day how inferior subject peoples are.

Even the upper end of the river believes in the ocean.

Keep a journal, and don't assume that your work has to accomplish anything worthy: artists and peace-workers are in it for the long haul, and not to be judged by immediate results.

The signals we give-yes or no, or maybe-/should be clear/the darkness around us is deep.

What you have to do as a writer is . . . write day in and day out no matter what happens.