People do seem to need poetry; it makes our ordinary life feel richer. - Elaine Feinstein

Why are we frightened of the word for love? - 'Language teaching: naming', Jenny Joseph

Go for it, petal. Nothing's as real as what you write. (from Writing to Onegin, Ruth Padel)

Not a graceful mind... a mind of grace, an altogether different and higher thing - Theodore Roethke

The poet shouldn't draw attention to his stylistic self; the poem should be a lens through which something crucial is seen. - Peter Dale

Who anyone is or I am is nothing to the work. (Denise Riley, from 'Dark Looks')

All my poems are intended to be heard out loud. They are an attempt to manifest something: not to 'describe' or 'invoke' it, but actually to bring it before the listener.

She is wise without portentousness, her technique faultless and her imagination fiery, political and fresh - Carol Rumens, The Independent.

not a thing no one will stop me I've got to go / down to the wild sea - 'Sea Wind', Tom Paulin