“There are spiders living comfortably in my house while the wind howls outside. They aren't bothering anybody. If I were a fly, I'd have second thoughts, but I'm not, so I don't.”

“I don't know these people and they aren't my flowers.”

“I had a good-talking candle last night in my bedroom. I was very tired but I wanted somebody to be with me, so I lit a candle and listened to its comfortable voice of light until I was asleep.”

“Your Catfish FriendIf I were to live my lifein catfish formsin scaffolds of skin and whiskersat the bottom of a pondand you were to come by one eveningwhen the moon was shiningdown into my dark homeand stand there at the edge of my affectionand think, “It's beautifulhere by this pond. I wish somebody loved me,”I'd love you and be your catfishfriend and drive such lonelythoughts from your mindand suddenly you would be at peace,and ask yourself, “I wonderif there are any catfishin this pond? It seems likea perfect place for them.”

“Excuse me, I said. I thought you were a trout stream.I'm not, she said.”

“Once upon a valley There came downFrom some goldenblue mountainsA handsome young princeWho was riding a dawncolored horseNames Lordsburg. I love youYou’re my breathing castleGentle so gentleWe’ll live foreverIn the valley There was a beautiful maidenWhom the prince drifted into love withLike a New Mexico made from apple thunder and long glass beds. I love youYou’re my breathing castleGentle so gentleWe’ll live foreverThe prince enchantedThe maidenAnd they rode offOn the dawncolored horse Named LordsburgToward the goldenblue mountains.I love youYou’re my breathing castleGentle so gentleWe’ll live foreverThey would have lived happily ever after if the horse hadn’t had a flat tireIn front of a dragon’sHouse.”

“There was a fine thing about that trout. I only wish I could have made a death mask of him. Not of his body though, but of his energy. I don't know if anyone would have understood his body. I put it in my creel.”