“the world is not a pleasant place to be without someone to hold and be held by.”

“You must be unintimidated by your own thoughts because if you write with someone looking over you shoulder, you'll never write.”

“I’ve not learned the acceptable way of saying you fascinate me...I’ve not even learned how to say I like you without frightening people away-”

“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”

“daddy says the world is a drum tight and hardand i told himi’m gonna beat out my own rhythm”

“I grow old though pleased with my memoriesThe tasks I can no longer completeAre balanced by the love of the tasks gone pastI offer no apology onlythis plea: When I am frayed and strained and drizzle at the endPlease someone cut a square and put me in a quiltThat I might keep some child warmAnd some old person with no one else to talk toWill hear my whispersAnd cuddlenear”

“There is always something to do. There are hungry people to feed, naked people to clothe, sick people to comfort and make well. And while I don't expect you to save the world I do think it's not asking too much for you to love those with whom you sleep, share the happiness of those whom you call friend, engage those among you who are visionary and remove from your life those who offer you depression, despair and disrespect.”