I really have always wanted to be a parent and when I hit 36 and had just ended a relationship I remember thinking how much I still wanted it. But I thought I'd adopt.

That's what I do and I enjoy even the hateful moments of a relationship where two people or four people come together to make a bigger mess than originally intended.

All modern revolutions have ended in a reinforcement of the power of the State.

So much money and energy is expended making a film that I think it should be used for positive ends.

Political folk talk a lot these days about 'messaging' - a neologism designed to describe the way in which parties and politicians consciously characterize their efforts. It is only intended to be positive - i.e. 'Our messaging is designed to show we care.'

I've rarely kept my distance from kind of - I don't know if we can call it politics but kind of civic engagement and that kind of thing except I tended to think 'Well do it yourself before you start telling other people what they should be doing.'

There's one of my new poems actually - is a good example of where my poetry has ended up. My earlier river poetry was more like a cross between Shelley and Dylan Thomas.

In a tribal organization even in time of peace service to tribe or state predominates over all self seeking in war service for the tribe or state becomes supreme and personal liberty is suspended.

While conscience is our friend all is at peace however once it is offended farewell to a tranquil mind.

Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism.