Like most children, I thought if I could face the worst danger voluntarily, and triumph, I would forever have power over it. - Maya Angelou

I started writing when I was mute. I always thought I could write because I loved to read so much. I loved the melody of Poe and I loved Paul Laurence Dunbar. I had memorized so much of Dunbar, Poe, Shakespeare, James Weldon Johnson, Longfellow. When my son was able to be quiet enough to listen, I taught him those poets. A few years ago he gave a reading of his poetry and he started the reading by saying "First, let me recite to you some of the poets my mother raised me on . . ." In the contemporary world, I confess to having been impressed by Ann Petry. I had The Street in my hand, I used to carry it around… (1988)

It was a large heart with lots of hearts growing smaller inside, and piercing from the outside rim to the smallest heart was an arrow.

Life was cheap and death entirely free.