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Reform and exchange in English poetry are as slow as in the British constitution itself.

Some people think that English poetry begins with the Anglo-Saxons. I don't, because I can't accept that there is any continuity between the traditions of Anglo-Saxon poetry and those established in English poetry by the time of, say, Shakespeare. And anyway, Anglo-Saxon is a different language, which has to be learned.

Poetry is a mixture of common sense, which not all have, with an uncommon sense, which very few have.

More modern poetry is written than read.

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

And, I mean, I think poetry does need to be met to some extent, especially, I guess, 19th century poetry, and for me, it's just been so worth the effort. It's like I'm planting a garden in my head.

I think that the job of poetry, its political job, is to refresh the idea of justice, which is going dead in us all the time.

English poetry begins whenever we decide to say the modern English language begins, and it extends as far as we decide to say that the English language extends.

The great watershed of modern poetry is French, more than English.

There's a lot of rage in my head. I like the friction that means there is nothing relaxing about writing a poem. I can't afford to relax in any area of life. You have to keep your senses awake to all the complacency that kicks in - particularly for the English.