“ I thought, after the Pulitzer, at least nothing will surprise me quite that much in my life. And another one happened. It was quite amazing. ”

“ My father is a chemist, my mother was a homemaker. My parents instilled in us the feeling that learning was the most exciting thing that could happen to you, and it never ends. ”

“ The poetry that sustains me is when I feel that, for a minute, the clouds have parted and I've seen ecstasy or something. ”

“ I try to show what it is about language and music that enthralls, because I think those are the two elements of poetry. ”

“ I see a resurgence of interest in poetry. I am less optimistic about the prospects for the arts when it comes to federal funding. ”

“ There are distinct duties of a poet laureate. I plan a reading series at the Library of Congress and advise the librarian. The rest is how I want to promote poetry. ”

“ I think one of the things that people tend to forget is that poets do write out of life. It isn't some set piece that then gets put up on the shelf, but that the impetus, the real instigation for poetry is everything that's happening around us. ”

“ Have you ever heard a good joke? If you've ever heard someone just right, with the right pacing, then you're already on the way to poetry. It's about using words in very precise ways and using gesture. ”

“ Without imagination we can go nowhere. And imagination is not restricted to the arts. Every scientist I have met who has been a success has had to imagine. ”

“ If we really want to be full and generous in spirit, we have no choice but to trust at some level. ”