Great Regulars: In his poem "Upon Nothing," John Wilmot (1647-80),

also known as the earl of Rochester, deploys wit as a flashing blade of skepticism, slashing away not only at a variety of human behaviors and beliefs, not only at false authorities and hollow reverences, not only at language, but at knowledge--at thought itself:

"Upon Nothing"

from Robert Pinsky: Slate: Something From Nothing

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On Poetry and Songwriting:

Pinsky: "Pat Alger, who's written a lot of country hits, we did a few shows together and we were interviewed by a disk jockey in Texas. He said, 'What's the difference between writing a song and writing a poem?' Before I could answer, Pat, who's a poetry buff, and a [Robert] Frost collector, said, "A little poetry can really help a song. Too much poetry can sink a song."

Springsteen: "I've practiced both disciplines."

from Robert Pinsky: New Jersey Monthly: Springsteen and the Poet Laureate

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