There are plenty of examples of people who have had busy lives out there in the world, trying to do good, and written very well at the same time. Andrew Motion busyexamplegood Change image and share on social
If I were to die thinking that I'd written three poems that people might read after me, I would feel that I hadn't lived in vain. Great poets might expect the whole body of their work, but most of us - well, I would settle for a handful. Andrew Motion bodydieexpect share on social
I like eating out. I like buying beautiful paintings and being surrounded by beautiful things. I have to finance that life. I can barely afford a pension scheme because I don't make enough money. Andrew Motion affordbarelybeautiful Change image and share on social
I don't want my poems to be sentimental, though I do acknowledge that sentiment is probably rather under-reported in a lot of people's feelings a lot of the time. Andrew Motion acknowledgefeelinglot Change image and share on social
But I can't and don't ever want to write bell-yanking confetti-tossing hat-throwing poems. Andrew Motion bellconfettihat Change image and share on social
I get up at 5.30am, sluice myself and have two Weetabix and some mint tea, before starting to write by 6am. Andrew Motion 30am6ammint Change image and share on social
But in a lot of ways my poems are very conventional, and it's no big deal for me to write a poem in either free verse or strict form; modern poets can, and do, do both. Andrew Motion bigconventionaldeal Change image and share on social
Well, it's a badge of honour for any self-respecting poet to be criticized by Auberon Waugh. But in a lot of ways my poems are very conventional, and it's no big deal for me to write a poem in either free verse or strict form; modern poets can, and do, do both. Andrew Motion auberonbadgebig share on social
I wanted to reimagine the role, in a way that was respectful of its traditional responsibilities but made them part of a wider pattern of poetry about national incidents, events, preoccupations; and to spend a great deal of time going to schools trying to demystify poetry. Andrew Motion dealdemystifyevent share on social
