And my father was a comic. He could play any musical instrument. He loved to perform. He was a wonderfully comedic character. He had the ability to dance and sing and charm and analyze poetry.

Reading a piece of poetry with no beat in front of 20 people is way more challenging than rocking for 10,000 people.

If there's no money in poetry, neither is there poetry in money.

I don't think it's always good to read lots of poetry.

The first function of poetry is to tell the truth, to learn how to do that, to find out what you really feel and what you really think.

So, poetry becomes a means for useful dialogue between people who are not only unknown, but mute to each other. It produces a dialogue among people that guards all of us against manipulation by our so-called leaders.

Naming a baby is an act of poetry, for many people the only creative moment of their lives.

I've done a number of readings at poetry lounges in Vancouver and Los Angeles. I've compiled a book of poetry that's completed, and two others I'm working on.

America was based on a poetic vision. What will happen when it loses its poetry?

I see people who talk about America, and then undermine it by not paying attention to its soul, to its poetry. I see polarization, reductionism and superficiality.