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
The best public poems aren't necessarily those that go at the subject like a bull at a gate. Andrew Motion bullgatenecessarily Change image and share on social
I shall try to write a poem that is about the moment but doesn't betray things that are true to me as a poet. Andrew Motion betraymomentpoem Change image and share on social
I've found a different way to scent the air: already it's a by-word for despair. Andrew Motion airdespairfind Change image and share on social
I read 'Treasure Island' for the first time at university. And I started to notice then how unresolved some things were. Later, I realised that Stevenson was interested in sequels, and I wondered whether he would have gone back to it had he lived longer. Andrew Motion backinterestisland share on social
When Keats says: 'Axioms in philosophy are not axioms until they are proved upon our pulses', what he means is that we don't necessarily believe what a poem is saying if it comes out and tells us in an absolutely head-on, in-your-face way; we only believe it to be true if we feel it to be true. Andrew Motion absolutelyaxiomface 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 want to write poems which are very emotional, but I would have some hesitation in saying I want to write poems which are sentimental. Andrew Motion emotionalhesitationpoem Change image and share on social
These places, and the ancient things you know, You won't know soon. I'm working on it now.' Andrew Motion ancientplacething Change image and share on social