Al Purdy

For me, the vast marvel is to be alive. For man, or for flowers or beast or bird, the supreme triumph is to be most vividly and perfectly alive.

'A collected poems' is either a gravestone or a testimonial to survival.

I don't think I do have a soul.

I started writing when I was about thirteen.

In my own mind, I was sort of a desperate kid.

I was desperately unhappy trying to adjust to the world.

I'm not religious in any formal sense, not in any God sense.

Things were so bad we ate rabbits that neighbours had run over and gave to us because they knew we were broke.

At a certain age you're always uncertain how other people will take you.