“GRUBSTREET — The name of a street near Moorsfield, London, much inhabited by writers of small histories, dictionaries, and temporary poems.”

“We seem to inhabit a universe made up of a small number of elements-particles-bits that swirl in chaotic clouds, occasionally clustering together in geometrically logical temporary configurations.”

“LEXICOGRAPHER — A writer of dictionaries, a harmless drudge.”

“For a writer, to change languages is to write a love letter with a dictionary.”

“When I first read the dictionary, I thought it was a long poem about everything.”

“Every poem is political. In poems not obviously political, the writer is trying to avoid something…”

“Veal-Fattening Pen: Small, cramped office workstations built of fabric-covered disassemblable wall partitions and inhabited by junior staff members. Named after the small preslaughter cubicles used by the cattle industry.”

“in the street of the sky night walks scattering poems”

“Don’t you love the Oxford Dictionary? When I first read it, I thought it was a really really long poem about everything.”

“Since then I've always thought that under rape in the dictionary it should tell the truth. It is not just forcible intercourse; rape means to inhabit and destroy everything.”