Get INTO Dodge

Two weeks ago, I attended the biennial Geraldine Dodge Poetry Festival held at Waterloo Village in northwest New Jersey. Waterloo is a restored 19th century village along the banks of a small river - a perfect unhurried spot in which to soak up words. It's a buffet feast of poets, as I heard Lucille Clifton, Sharon Olds, and Edward Hirsch to name a few, as well as former Poet Lauerates Billy Collins, Ted Kooser, and Charles Simic. (Note: Consultant in Poetry at the Library of Congress is actually the official, rather unwieldly title of the Poet Lauerate.)
A few observations from poets that seem to apply to all writers:

Edward Hirsch: "Writing poetry is a way to try to outlast time."

Billy Collins: "Writing is about trying to obtain the love of strangers. It's a neurosis. I mean, isn't it hard enough to get love from the people around you?"

Ted Kooser: "I write to move from length to brevity, and from complexity to clarity."

Most inspiring? Hands down - Ted Kooser, who retired as Vice President of Lincoln Benefit Insurance Company after 30+ years. He wrote throughout his entire insurance career, rising every morning at 4:30 to work on his poetry. During his 20 month tenure as Consultant in Poetry...etc, he visited 48 states, conducted over 100 interviews, and made over 200 appearances - all to champion the cause of poetry.
Kathy