What do you find most difficult about writing poetry?
For me, the process is can be obsessive and that is sometimes difficult, in that I can’t focus on anything else until a poem is done, or at least the first draft is done. This can mean sleepless nights, lack of concentration on other things. This sounds like I don’t enjoy the process, I do, its just sometimes all consuming! I have a fairly obsessive personality!
How does a poem begin?
A poem usually begins with a feeling, an image, a flashback. I then take that and apply some kind of frame of reference as in ‘what am I trying to say’. I then search for those crucial first lines, and just let it go from there. Sometimes the feeling can last for days, until I’m ready to write it down. I don’t scribble or riff or try different lines. I just wait until its ready and then it happens. I don’t have notebooks full of writing. It just doesn’t happen that way for me.
What poets changed the way you thought about writing?
For me, it was the poet, Aaron Kent. He redefined for me what was possible on a page, what was possible in terms of language. Not just structurally, but in terms of instilling meaning into the very aesthetics of a poem. After Aaron, I would say Frank Stanford / Ted Hughes, Frank in terms of fragility and feeling, and Ted Hughes (Crow specifically) in terms of sheer dark gnarliness!
How did you first engage with poetry?
I first found poetry through Henry Rollins. I was/am a massive Black Flag / Rollins Band fan and consumed all of his music and books. This then led to Bukowski. I was also involved in some online poetry groups, which whilst a little sycophantic, gave me exposure to other poets, forms and styles, and helped me to branch out. Now I try and read as widely and broadly as possible. I tend to get over excited about everything.
You can find him via twitter @theeabsentee, or via his website www.theeabsentee.com
Why is poetry important?
It’s important because emotion is important. Struggle is important. Change is important. I think that poetry is a way of boiling down complex things and distilling them into something potent that can then be consumed. Poetry to me is best when it feels like a shot in the arm.
