"I work best in rhyme and meter. I was most confident of myself in that way"

Thom Gunn's quote speaks to the power of poetry and the confidence it can bring. He is expressing that he finds his biggest strength and assurance in the structure of rhyme and meter. This recommends that he finds comfort in the predictability of poetic form, which it allows him to express himself in a manner that he is most confident in. He is most likely referring to the reality that poetry can be an effective tool for communicating feeling and concepts, which it can be a source of strength and security. By using rhyme and meter, he has the ability to create a structure that permits him to express himself in a way that he is most comfortable with. This quote speaks with the power of poetry and the self-confidence it can bring, and how it can be a source of strength and security.