English poetry begins whenever we decide to say the modern English language begins, and it extends as far as we decide to say that the English language extends.

The writing of a poem is like a child throwing stones into a mineshaft. You compose first, then you listen for the reverberation.

Imitation, if it is not forgery, is a fine thing. It stems from a generous impulse, and a realistic sense of what can and cannot be done.

The lullaby is the spell whereby the mother attempts to transform herself back from an ogre to a saint.

Babies are not brought by storks and poets are not produced by workshops.

Hearing that the same men who brought us 'South Park' were mounting a musical to be called 'The Book of Mormon,' we were tempted to turn away, as from an inevitable massacre.

One does not become a guru by accident.

Windbags can be right. Aphorists can be wrong. It is a tough world.

In rap, as in most popular lyrics, a very low standard is set for rhyme; but this was not always the case with popular music.

My feeling is that poetry will wither on the vine if you don't regularly come back to the simplest fundamentals of the poem: rhythm, rhyme, simple subjects - love, death, war.

Poetry carries its history within it, and it is oral in origin. Its transmission was oral.

Literature will save me it's the only certainty i am sure of.

All souls have a body.

Because if I am the last one, then I am humanity.And if this is humanity's last war, then I am the battlefield.

If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.

Who is Dr. A. von Holstein? And is he related, by chance, to a race of cows?

Everything has a reason, including the selection of the photos, which was not arbitrary but appropriate to the period, its highs and lows and my sense of them.

Scripture has always been a part of my life. My dad was a pastor. My mother was a speaker, writer, and teacher. I memorized Scripture from the time I was little.

[Ronald] Reagan talked to people across the world and he was very successful in communicating and treating people with dignity and respect, but putting America first in every single we do.

Many ALS patients end up fading away quietly and dying. For me, this was not OK. I did not want to fade away quietly.

I know there are people who believe you should forgive and forget. For the record, I'd like to say I'm a big fan of forgiveness as long as I'm given the opportunity to get even first.