I need about one hundred fifty drafts of a poem to get it right, and fifty more to make it sound spontaneous.

What you have to realize when you write poetry, or if you love poetry, is that poetry is just naturally the greatest god damn thing that ever was in the whole universe

I want you to hear a new version of Dueling Banjos. Anyone else is welcome.

A poet is someone who stands outside in the rain hoping to be struck by lightning.

Flight is the only truly new sensation than men have achieved in modern history.

I want a fever, in poetry: a fever, and tranquillity.

There are so many selves in everybody, and just to explore and exploit one is wrong, dead wrong, for the creative person.

I once had the nerve to ask Picasso the question, 'What is art?' He answered, 'Art is a lie which makes us see the truth.

I don’t believe that a reviewer or a critic can really criticize well unless he can praise well.

To be precise and reckless: that is the consummation devoutly to be wished.

Poetry makes possible the deepest kind of personal possession of the world.

The formal definition of impact is a forcible contact between two things, and God has designed our lives for a collision course with the world.

He’s America in action — opposed to quality.

When I get depressed, I try to get something for the terrible sadness that comes over me and create something in terms of poetry.

Of course, true love is exceptional - two or three times a century, more or less. The rest of the time there is vanity or boredom.

We smoked the way other American families would have wine with dinner. For us, it was our sacrament. It was something that made a great life sweeter in every possible way.

I had a very free childhood and ranged around on my bicycle the way boys do. I had few restrictions.

Some of the things I've been in are comedic, but I don't get considered for true comedies because I'm a 'dramatic' actor.

The greater opportunity enabled me to make important discoveries and inventions.

Not everything has to be a couples' event.

I love older lady style. They dress for themselves everyday.