"I work very hard on all my poems, but most of the work consists of trying not to sound as if I had worked. I try to make them sound as natural as possible, but within a quite strict form, which to my ears has a lot to do with musical rhythm and sound"

Anne Stevenson's quote talks to the trouble of composing poetry. She highlights the significance of making her poems sound natural, but likewise acknowledges the need to adhere to a strict form. This type is likely a poetic structure, such as a sonnet or villanelle, which needs a specific number of lines and a specific rhyme plan. Stevenson likewise mentions the significance of musical rhythm and sound, which suggests that she is conscious of the musicality of her poems. This could mean that she takes note of the noise of her words and the way they stream together. Eventually, Stevenson's quote reveals her devotion to her craft and her dedication to developing poems that are both natural and structured.