The decision to write in prose instead of poetry is made more by the readers than by writers. Almost no one is interested in reading narrative in verse.

You have to really dive deep back into yourself and get rid of so much modern analytical categorization. It's one of the great things poetry does.

It was less a literary thing than a linguistic, philosophical preoccupation... discovering how far you can go with language to create immediate, elementary experience.

I have taught students from the New York City area so long I have a special affinity and rapport with them. It surprises me sometimes that there are students from anywhere else.

Distance not only gives nostalgia, but perspective, and maybe objectivity.

A lot of my students are Asian-American, and it has been thrilling to watch them break through the stereotypes into something alive and surprising.

Maybe the example of Southern fiction writing has been so powerful that Southern poets have sort of keyed themselves to that.

I seem to keep returning to my father in poems because his personality was so extreme, so driven. He did everything to excess.

Fiction is about intimacy with characters, events, places.

Some people want to call me an Appalachian writer, even though I know some people use regional labels to belittle.

The young people have MTV and rock and roll. Why would they go to read poetry? Poetry belongs to the Stone Age. It awakens in us perceptions that go back to those times.

If it ain't a pleasure, it ain't a poem.

Cliche is Truth's most loyal friend...

Spring makes everything young again except man.

The mathematics are distinguished by a particular privilege, that is, in the course of ages, they may always advance and can never recede.

If President Obama really wants to hurt the Syrian government, don't send cruise missiles. He should send over some of his economic advisers.

Tammy Faye, I pray for every day. I really liked her. I wanted to be in their family.

The immoderate cannot laugh moderately.

You've had a long working life As everyone knows You can now do nothing at all And then have a doze Enjoy Your Retirement

After I did the swimsuit issuе, I knew that I wanted to do it again.

‘Blade Runner’ is such a unique film. How do you describe a diamond? I don’t think you should ever touch it again.