Each memorable verse of a true poet has two or three times the written content.

We are supposed to write poetry to keep the gods alive.

Like most lit nerds, I'm a voracious reader. I never got enough poetry under my belt growing up but I do read it - some of my favorites, Gina Franco and Angela Shaw and Cornelius Eady and Kevin Young,...

We only pass everything by like a transposition of air.

O.K. I'm running out of appetite. Let this swirl - a bit like Crab Nebula - do for now.

And strange-eyed constellations reign His stars eternally.

ERIC: What are you always writin' in that book anyway?...

There isn't enough paper in the world to write all the poems you inspire in me.

We are merely ghost flowers under the shade of the moon...

If you look a word up in the dictionary and twenty minutes later you're still wandering around in the dictionary, you probably have the most basic equipment you need to be a poet.

My beloved jay, give me a name now. Call out the name you give me, looking into the deepest place in your heart. Every time you call my name, I'll fly to you and be your wings.

You smug-faced crowds with kindling eye Who cheer when soldier lads march by, Sneak home and pray you'll never know The hell where youth and laughter go.

He sits, strong and blunt as a Celtic cross, Clearly used to silence and an armchair: Tonight the wife and children will be quiet At slammed door and smoker's cough in the hall.

She had just enough madness to make her interesting

"The Apache don't have a word for love," he said. "Know what they both say at the marriage? The squaw - taking ceremony?" "Tell me." "Varlebena. It means forever. That's all they say."

I saw a dog pursuing automobiles; On and on he sped. I was puzzled by this; I accosted the dog. 'If you catch one,' I said 'What will you do with it?' 'Dumb cat,' he cried, And ran on.

The sky drops silver threads of sleet.

here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide and this is the wonder that's keeping the...

Swifter far than summer's flight, Swifter far than youth's delight, Swifter far than happy night, Art thou come and gone: As the earth when leaves are dead, As the night when sleep is sped, As the...

I couldn't tell fact from fiction,Or if the dream was trueMy only sure predictio

A certain person wondered whya big strong girl like mewouldn't keep a jobwhich paid a normal salary.I took my time to lead herand to read her every page.Even minimal peoplecan't survive on minimal...

It's the fire in my eyes, And the flash of my teeth, The swing in my waist, And the joy in my feet. I'm a woman Phenomenally.

In India when I was a boy they had great big green lizards there, and if you shouted or shot them their tails would fall off. There was only one boy in the school who could catch lizards intact. No...

One! two! and through and throughThe vorpal blade went snickersnack!He left it dead, and with its headHe went galumphing back.

Do you remember our sweet life, when we were so young, and that we had no other desire at the heart than being well put on and being in love, when by adding your age, we did not count at two forty...

When, in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes,I all alone beweep my outcast state And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless criesAnd look upon myself and curse my fate, Wishing me like to one more rich...

It was a scary thought. A man could be surrounded by poetry reading and not know it.

I would not come in.I meant not even if asked,And I hadn't been.

GATHERING LEAVESSpades take up leavesNo better than spoons,And bags full of leavesAre light as balloons.I make a great noiseOf rustling all dayLike rabbit and deerRunning away.But the mountains I...

Ah, when to the heart of man Was it ever less than a treason To go with the drift of things, To yield with a grace to reason