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I have never considered myself a poet. I have no interest in poetic artistry.

I don't try to call myself a poet. But I know that my stuff is pretty literal, in that the themes are pretty simple and on the surface.

I always thought that poetry is the verdict that others give to a certain kind of writing. So to call yourself a poet is a kind of dangerous description. It's for others; it's for others to use.

I think the term poet is a very exalted term and should be applied to a man at the end of his work. When he looks back over the body of his work and he's written poetry then let the verdict be that he's a poet.

For a long time I thought I was a poet, but that's a high title to claim.

I thought that if one wanted to be a writer, one had to write novels because I didn't know that one could be a poet.

I've written poetry since I was a kid. As the years went on, I got into writing stories and screenplays, but I always, always kept up with poetry as well.

The reason a poet is a poet is to write poems, not to advertise himself as a poet.