I Wanted To Be Acknowledged As An

I Do Not Remember Any Proper Children's Books In My Childhood. I Was Not Exposed To Them.

William Blake Really Is Important, My Cornerstone. Nobody Ever Told Me Before He Did That Childhood Was Such A Damned Serious Business.

I Remember How Much - When I Was A Small Boy I Was Taken To See A Version Of 'peter Pan.' I Detested It. I Mean, The Sentimental Idea That Anybody Would Want To Remain A Boy.

Once A Little Boy Sent Me A Charming Card With A Little Drawing On It. I Loved It. I Answer All My Children’s Letters — Sometimes Very Hastily — But This One I Lingered Over. I Sent Him A Card And I Drew A Picture Of A Wild Thing On It. I Wrote, “dear Jim: I Loved Your Card.” Then I Got A Letter Back From His Mother And She Said, “jim Loved Your Card So Much He Ate It.” That To Me Was One Of The Highest Compliments I’ve Ever Received. He Didn’t Care That It Was An Original Maurice Sendak Drawing Or Anything. He Saw It, He Loved It, He Ate It.

My Father Could Be Very Witty, Even If The Humor Was Always On The Darker Side Of Irony.