Lose For a bird, especially for the more musically inventive, song is the defining characteristic, the primary way by which it knows itself and is known by... John Burnside 13
Truth People will occasionally ask me if I understand what it's like to be lonely. And the truth is I don't, because for me, solitariness is a blessing, a... John Burnside 10
Humility We do not need to be heroes to save the world; all we need is humility, a critical view of the commercial and political interests of those who would... John Burnside 15
Humility The great pleasure that comes from reading poets such as Mark Doty and Marianne Moore is the realisation that the essential virtues - compassion,... John Burnside 11
Beauty Sometimes, though only in my most unguarded moments, I can still think of Annette Winters as my first love. At fifteen, she was tall, slender, very... John Burnside 12
Chance This is a truth that should be repeated like a mantra: to have any chance of a ful - filling life, we require not only clean air and a steady climate,... John Burnside 10
