As women have played an increasingly important role in politics there is no question that they've brought a different perspective focusing attention on a broader set of issues and building alliances with other women.

In politics women type the letters lick the stamps distribute the pamphlets and get out the vote. Men get elected.

At present our country needs women's idealism and determination perhaps more in politics than anywhere else.

I'm always rather nervous about how you talk about women who are active in politics whether they want to be talked about as women or as politicians.

They say women talk too much. If you have worked in Congress you know that the filibuster was invented by men.

Women who are inclined to write poetry at all are inspired by being mad at something.

Reading poetry gives me a sense of calm well-being and love for humanity - the same stuff more flexible women get from yoga.

I'm perfectly happy when I look out at an audience and it's all women. I always think it's kind of odd but then more women than men I think read and write poetry.

Because in fact women feminists do read my poetry and they read it often with the power of their political interpretation. I don't care that's what poetry is supposed to do.

It's always good when women win things in fiction because it tends to be more male-dominated unlike poetry which is more equal.