It's The Combination Of The Intimate And

To Me, A Poem Is Almost Like Someone Whispering To Another Person, Or You Hear The Whispering In Your Head. I Hope With My Own Poems That The Reader Feels A Connection, Soul To Soul, That'll Help Us All Feel A Little Less Alone On The Planet. And It Does Have The Power To Direct Change. A Writer Can Make The Word 'dark' Be Something Positive. You Can Relieve A Word Like 'hysterical' Of Its Misogynistic Implications. You Can Make The Language Your Own. That's What Poetry Is About.

For Many Years, I Thought A Poem Was A Whisper Overheard, Not An Aria Heard.

I Think If You Put Something In A File That Says "war Poems" Or "love Poems" That You Already Restrict The Way In Which The Poem Might Move.

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

Rap Is Only One End Of A Whole Spectrum Of Verbal Play And Virtuosity. Rap Is Geared For Aural Pleasure.