I was just sitting on my bed in a dormitory room, and I started writing. The thing that was magic about it was that once you put down one word, you could cross it out. I figured that out right away. I put down 'mountain,' and then I'd go, 'No - 'valley.' That's better.' James Tate bedcrossdormitory share on social
I love my funny poems, but I'd rather break your heart. And if I can do both in the same poem, that's the best. James Tate breakfunnyheart Change image and share on social
When you don't sleep, you start to hallucinate, and that's not good. James Tate goodhallucinatesleep Change image and share on social
I don't think you can define how you acquire your imagination any more than you can define why one person has a sense of humor and another doesn't. But I certainly would lean to the side that says all those solitary hours of daydreaming were a kind of training for poetry. James Tate acquiredaydreamdefine share on social
I can't know entirely what's at stake beforehand; you find out as you go. I love to take a poem, for instance, that starts with something seemingly frivolous or inconsequential and then grows in gravity until by the end it's something very serious. James Tate endfindfrivolous share on social
I like to start with the ordinary, and then nudge it, and then think, 'What happens next, what happens next?' James Tate nudgeordinarystart Change image and share on social
If you laughed earlier in the poem, and I bring you close to tears in the end, that's the best. James Tate bringcloseearly Change image and share on social
