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I've been trekking the hills and lanes of the British countryside for nearly four decades now and I've come to associate my passion with overexcited poets rather than pampered painters.

I feel very connected to poets across the country.

However, I began to submit poems to British magazines, and some were accepted. It was a great moment to see my first poems published. It felt like entering a tradition.

I've been surprised to learn how many people love poetry. It's beautiful to see that people want poetry in their lives.

I definitely wish to distinguish American poetry from British or other English language poetry.

My proudest achievement has been the success of the shows and artists I have been involved with, because they were made in Britain.

I was brought up in Britain, and I'm very proud of my Britishness and my culture.

I really love poetry. I'm a big E.E. Cummings fan and a big Walt Whitman fan, and I have a big book of poetry.

People write me from all over the country, asking me, and sometimes even telling me, what they think a poet laureate should do. I found that immensely valuable.