Mark Strand

And at least in poetry you should feel free to lie. That is, not to lie, but to imagine what you want, to follow the direction of the poem.

I think the best American poetry is the poetry that utilizes the resources of poetry rather than exploits the defects or triumphs of the poet's personality.

Pain is filtered in a poem so that it becomes finally, in the end, pleasure.

All true language is incomprehensible, like the chatter of a beggar's teeth.

The thing about great poetry is we have no defenses against it.

I keep on 5 to 10 pounds above my jeans weight, as the ultimate no-filler-needed refresher, and buy a size up on jeans.