For Many Years, I Thought A Poem

I've Always Felt That The Poems I've Written Which Have Historical Context Are Hopefully Not Just Simply Plucking Something Out Of History And Saying Great, Let's Write About That. In Every Case What Has Happened Is That I've Become Fascinated Or Haunted By Something And Couldn't Shake It.

I Thought, After The Pulitzer, At Least Nothing Will Surprise Me Quite That Much In My Life. And Another One Happened. It Was Quite Amazing.

If You Can't Be Free, Be A Mystery.

I Was Appointed Poet Laureate. It Came Totally Out Of The Blue Because Most Poet Laureates Had Been Considerably Older Than I. It Was Not Something That I Even Had Begun To Dream About!

I Keep The Drafts Of Each Poem In Color-coded Folders. I Pick Up The Folders According To How I Feel About That Color That Day.