Nowadays, what an award gives is a sense of solidarity with the poetry guild, as it were: sustenance coming from the assent of your peers on the judging panel.

I don't think my intelligence is naturally analytic or political.

I'm a firm believer in learning by heart.

Memory has always been fundamental for me. In fact, remembering what I had forgotten is the way most of the poems get started.

For a time during the early settlement of this country peace and goodwill prevailed, only to be followed later by violent and relentless warfare.

Jesus said, 'Blessed are the peacemakers.' And I think a lot of people don't understand that there's a difference between a peace lover and a peacemaker. Everybody loves peace, but wearing jewelry around your neck and saying 'I love peace' doesn't bring it.

I think gay marriage should be the national law.

I worked very hard in my first marriage, and I travelled constantly to make money for the family, and when I came home, I would be the best father that I could be.