"My poems were just kind of all over the place. They had no focus, no location, nothing. Kind of a series of images that could have been set anywhere. A lot of the poems were just exercises for myself"

This quote by James Welch talks to the lack of focus and instructions in his early poetry. He explains his poems as being "all over the location" and having "no focus, no area, absolutely nothing". This suggests that his poems did not have a clear narrative or style, and instead were a collection of images that might have been set anywhere. This could be interpreted as a sign of his lack of experience as a poet, as he was still learning how to craft a poem with a clear purpose and instructions. It likewise suggests that he was using his poems as a way to practice and explore various strategies and ideas, as he was still refining his craft. Ultimately, this quote speaks to the importance of practice and experimentation in the advancement of a poet's skills.