I write between 5.30am and 9.00. That way, I hope I carry over something from my dream time.

I don't want my poems to be sentimental, though I do acknowledge that sentiment is probably rather under-reported in a lot of people's feelings a lot of the time.

Each sudden gust of light explains itself as flames, but neither they, nor even bombs redoubled on the hills tonight can quite include me in their fear.

Poems are a hotline to our hearts, and we forget this emotional power at our peril

But Wordsworth is the poet I admire above all others.

I am a vigilant monarchist. I want to see things evolve. The direction the monarchy seems to be moving in - towards a more mainland-European model - is one I would feel sympathetic about.

Honor the miraculousness of the ordinary.

I like eating out. I like buying beautiful paintings and being surrounded by beautiful things. I have to finance that life. I can barely afford a pension scheme because I don't make enough money.

I'm ensuring my place in heaven.

Like a lot of people, for a long time I thought that the road to hell is paved with bad sequels.

But in a lot of ways my poems are very conventional, and it's no big deal for me to write a poem in either free verse or strict form; modern poets can, and do, do both.

If one cannot learn from the mistakes of others, one might as well become a Democrat.

Walsall have given City more than one anxious moment amongst many anxious moments

Xena, I'll always love you, but I know I have to let you go.

Did I say that the President's entire job is image management? Of course not.

My life is very crazy and busy, but I love it that way.

I think generational trauma also plays a big part in the reactions to Israeli politics.

all stories are like those about the creation of the universe, no one was there, no one witnessed anything, yet everyone knows what happened.

I grew up in a martial arts gym surrounded by men and boys, and I pretty much call myself a tomboy.

Lucky people create, notice, and act upon the chance opportunities in their lives.

It's amazing how fast gold works.