About “Observed in Passing”

1. What was your motivation for writing “Observed in Passing”?

It’s a eulogy of sorts. A brother-in-law died, and like many of us, would leave few markers behind to tell of his having lived. This short poem commemorates his having done so.

2. What challenges—if any—did you have writing your poem?

I’ll deny it if confronted, but he was sometimes a hard man to like.

3. What is your favourite line—if any—in “Observed in Passing”?

Maybe ‘during the teary, half-smiling sharings,’ which calls to mind the universal bittersweet recollections of someone’s life.

4. What do you want people to walk away with after reading “Observed in Passing”?

An empathy with the expressed emotions. It would also be fun if people used the poem for other remembrances.

5. Is there anything else you would like to talk about regarding “Observed in Passing” that hasn’t been asked?

Nope.

Reading

1. What are you currently reading? 

Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf.

2. Do you have a favourite book? If so, what is it?

Not really, my reading tastes could be described as Catholic if by that one means indiscriminate. My next to last read was ‘The Dain Curse’ by Dashiell Hammett.

3. What is your favourite poet or author, if any?

Mary Oliver by far, but I try not to copy her.

4. Do you gravitate towards reading genres outside the ones you write?

All the time.

Writing

1. Why do you write?

Some people play with their food; I play with my words. If the words outlive me all the better.

2. What do you love about being a poet?

My writing personality is split between genre fiction and literary poetry, with a little cross bleeding between the two veins. 

3. What time of the day do you write, and do you have a writing routine?

Mornings mostly.

4. Where do you get your ideas from?

A swamp gas mind. They just ooze up.

5. How long does it take you to write your projects?

The first draft quickly. The rewrite about half again longer than the first draft.  More often than not when I revisit a poem I tinker with it and file the revised version under the same title. Just to confuse posterity.

6. What advice would you give to other authors/writers/poets?

There’s no money in poetry, but there’s huge self-satisfaction with creating nimbler worded observations.

7. What project(s) are you currently working on?

A poetry chapbook, “Peculair Perspectives,” coming out in May.

A poetry chapbook for the Wilton, CT poetry group which I facilitate, to be submitted shortly.

Maybe an anthology of my flash fantasy stories, all individually published but not yet coopered together.

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