“My mother and father had so many ups and downs and stayed with each other and helped each other. My mother took in ironing and she was a waitress. My father was working in the factory and he did people's tax returns.”

American poet and musician, 1970s–present A defining figure of punk and avant-garde art, she blends poetry and rock in her work, known for albums like *Horses* and performances that merge raw lyricism with visual spectacle. Her writing—both in verse and prose—often explores themes of love, rebellion, and the sacred in everyday life.