You don't go after poetry you take what comes. Maybe the gods do it through me but I certainly do a hell of a lot of the work.

Don't call my lyrics poetry. It's an insult to real poets.

Poetry is of so subtle a spirit that in the pouring out of one language into another it will evaporate.

I started off in England and very few people knew I was Australian. I mean the clues were in the poems but they didn't read them very carefully and so for years and years I was considered completely part of the English poetry scene.

Theater and poetry were what helped people stay alive and want to go on living.

What is poetry which does not save nations or people?

There's not a good poet I know who has not at the beck and call of his memory a vast quantity of poetry that composes his mental library.

Religion is no more possible without prayer than poetry without language or music without atmosphere.

I don't think Auden liked my poetry very much he's very Anglican.

I think it was T.S. Eliot who talked about good poetry being felt before it's understood. I believe that. There are some bands where I love their lyrics but I don't have a clue what they're on about.

I found that it wasn't so oddball to like music and poetry and visual arts they're kindred spirits.

My father had wanted to name me for Dylan Thomas. He had seen him speak on one of those drunken poetry tours he did.

The urge to write poetry is like having an itch. When the itch becomes annoying enough you scratch it.

For poetry there exists neither large countries nor small. Its domain is in the heart of all men.

Too many people in the modern world view poetry as a luxury not a necessity like petrol. But to me it's the oil of life.

Well I write a lot of poetry - that's where it usually all starts. I definitely want to show you guys sides of me - love loss heartbreak - all of that good stuff!

Reality only reveals itself when it is illuminated by a ray of poetry.