Well, I think, you know, the arts are really what - one of the things that make this country strong. We always think it's our economy or our military power, but in fact, I think it's our culture, our civilization, our ideas, our creativity.

If there's ever an example that military power alone cannot be successful in Afghanistan, I think it was the Soviet experience.

I don't know any artists that are really emotionally well adjusted. In fact, I think we're all pretty much insane.

I never thought I'd be doing poetry books. I never really studied poetry. But the first one I did was after my mother died, and I realized that people sort of think and talk about her style and fashion, but in fact, what made her the person she was was really her love of reading and ideas.

I think the primary message to the world is that the United States is going to remain the strongest military power in the world.

I have never ever Googled myself; in fact I think the Christian right prohibits such things.