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I dislike literary jargon and never use it. Criticism has only one function and that is to help readers read and understand literature. It is not a science, it is an aid to art.
I have always made my own rules, in poetry as in life – though I have tried of late to cooperate more with my family. I do, however, believe that without order or pattern poetry is useless.
I’m not really quiet or shy. Ask any of my friends! But I always ground my poetry in life itself. Poetry is an art of language, though, so I am always aware of every word’s meaning, or multiple meanings.
Poets should ignore most criticism and get on with making poetry.
I did know Ted Hughes and I partly wrote the book to explain to myself and others the complexities of a marriage that was for six years wonderfully productive of poetry and then ended in tragedy.
I don’t like poetry that just slaps violent words on a canvas, as it were.
A poem might be defined as thinking about feelings – about human feelings and frailties.
Each word bears its weight, so you have to read my poems quite slowly.
Yes, I do often write poems from the mind, but I hope I don’t ignore feelings and emotions.