I attempt to use words abstractly, as an abstract painter uses paint . . . I originally wanted to be a painter, and did paint until I was 18 years old.
I guess it would be wonderful to be America's greatest living painter and have acres and acres of one's work to survey and have prizes and museums and wealth, but I think I'd rather stick with poetry.
There are not that many things to write poetry about. There's love and there's death and time passing and the weather outside, which is horrible today. I'm so glad I'm not writing poetry today. The weather gets to me when I write.