“For if my poems have always been about survival--and I believe they have been--then survival too keeps revealing itself as an art of the unexpected.”

“Be honest about what you see, get out of the way and let the story reveal itself”

“You must understand the pain and grief of losing someone is nothing more than a function of survival.”

“Human beings always want explanations. They have to know everything about everything and they have to know it immediately.”

“My mother always said to keep my eyes open for the unexpected good, the little treasures.”

“My day has been too long. In the morning I saw the sons of the Unamis happy and strong; and yet, before the sun has come, have I lived to see the last warrior of the wise race of the Mohicans.”

“All my life, I always wanted to be somebody. Now I see that I should have been more specific. ”