How does a poem begin?
For me, a poem can begin one of two ways. Sometimes I get a moment of inspiration, a line or an image that leads to a poem. More often, though, I use a prompt or writing activity to get a draft started. I’ve found that, between work and parenting, my mind is often out of the writing mode, and prompts help me get back to that place.
What other poetry books have you been reading lately?
I recently finished Sandra Lim’s collection, The Curious Thing. I found so much to learn from her unexpected images and language choices. I’ve also been teaching Matthew Henry’s The Colored Page, and it’s sparked incredible conversations with my students.
What do you feel poetry can accomplish that other forms can’t?
The compact nature of poetry allows readers to really focus on details of the language, both the individual word choice and the images created. I also find the use of line and line breaks in poetry so interesting; you have an incredible amount of power to control where the reader’s attention goes.
How do you know when a poem is finished?
I use the strategy of micro-edits to revise poems--doing targeted revisions on just one aspect at a time (sound, line, word choice). After I’ve gone through my normal edits, I’ll let the poem sit for awhile to get some distance. After some time away, I can tell that the piece is either done, or that it needs to be totally reimagined.
What are you working on?
I’m currently working on putting together my first full-length collection, which is both intimidating and exciting. At the moment the process involves selecting previous works to include, as well as writing and revising new poems to fit with the themes and motifs I want the collection to center.
