“If you don't understand yourself you don't understand anybody else.”

“And you will understand all too soonThat you, my children of battle, are your heroes”

“Deal with yourself as a individual worthy of respect, and make everyone else deal with you the same way.”

“A lot of people refuse to do things because they don't want to go naked, don't want to go without guarantee. But that's what's got to happen. You go naked until you die”

“Don't want to be near you for the thoughts we share but the words we never have to speak.”

“Writers don't write from experience, although many are hesitant to admit that they don't. ...If you wrote from experience, you'd get maybe one book, maybe three poems. Writers write from empathy.”

“I'm glad I understand that while language is a gift, listening is a responsibility. (U.S. poet and writer, 1943- )”