How does a poem begin?
A poem, for me, usually begins with an image, memory, or experience. The fun thing about writing poetry, however, is I never know where that image, memory, or experience will take me. A poem will write itself in that way. Sometimes I feel as if I have little control of where it will lead.
When you require renewal, is there a particular poem or book that you return to? A particular author?
When I require renewal and inspiration, I will often return to some of my favorite poets: R.S. Thomas, Wallace Stevens, Robert Bly, James Wright, Jane Kenyon, Donald Hall, Wendell Berry, Lucille Clifton, among others. They continue to help me become a better poet.
How does your work first enter the world? Do you have a social group or writers group that you work ideas and poems with?
I usually work on my poems for a while. After I am content with a batch of them, I submit to various poetry magazine and journals. Sometimes I will solicit feedback from some trusted poets before submitting. However, I recognize that many people are busy and I do not want to burden them. So, in order to fill this gap, I recently joined a writers group that meets once a week over zoom. I am fortunate now to glean from insightful and accomplished poets on a more regular basis.
How did you first engage with poetry?
I began reading and writing poetry when I was nearing the completion of my PhD at Bangor University (Wales) in theology. But as soon as I became interested in it, I began reading voraciously. I read William Shakespeare to William Blake to William Wordsworth all the way to reading the contemporary William (Billy) Collins. If I remember correctly, I believe it was Collins’ popular anthology Poetry 180 that introduced me to contemporary poetry.
What are you working on?
At the moment I am working toward publishing a small collection of poems. Though I have quite a few poems scattered around in various places, I am working toward bringing together some previously published and unpublished work together in a book. I am hoping to have all the poems done in a years’ time. I also edit a poetry review platform East Ridge Review (Twitter: @eastridgereview) which can tend to keep me busy.
