There were also some cruel reviews by women, but the tone of the male reviewers, sometimes hysterical, was different. I have suffered, but I don't want to name names-but there have been men who have seemed to want to destroy me or my writing, men I don't even know.

I see myself as traditional even though I know you see my work as experimental. I don’t really consider Sterne, Joyce, and Proust experimental either because the tradition of their writing goes back a long way. Traditional. The Grand Tradition. Clear back to “Don Quixote.” I never decided to write in a “new way” at all. It’s realism that’s fairly new. Is it experimental to have been influenced by the Bible? By Saint Augustine?

It was never reveille in this windy world.

Forgive this breaking body as you forgive the star, the star whispering in the wind when the star is no more. Forgive this secret none can tell. None can tell and live.

I think there is a rage against women. I’ve come to see that now although at the time I did not notice it. I was preoccupied with my teaching and my writing.

There were also some cruel reviews by women, but the tone of the male reviewers, sometimes hysterical, was different. I have suffered, but I don’t want to name names but there have been men who have seemed to want to destroy me or my writing, men I don’t even know.

I’m quite sure that most writers would sustain real poetry if they could, but it takes devotion and talent.

At the age of 18 all young poets are sure they will be dead at 21 – of old age.

I don’t believe there can be a poetic novel without political consciousness. I have a strong political conscience.

If you don’t have obsessions, don’t write. my characters are obsessed.