April 9, 2019
When I first read the work of poet Billy Collins back in the 2000’s, I reacted very snobbishly: “What? This is poetry???” His free verse seemed very plain-spoken, and worse, dared to be humorous. But as I continued to read other “accessible” poets (poets whose meaning is clear) like Raymond Carver, Mary Oliver and Ted Kooser, and began to produce my own work without the benefit of classroom or workshop, I came to realize that my particular “talent” lay along similar lines. I just hoped that with time, study and practice, I might write just as accessibly and truthfully as well.
I have approximately four volumes of poems that I have written and compiled (not including my foray into Haiku). The first, from 1999-2003, comprises mostly angry “early juvenilia”, to borrow Collins’ own term. These early attempts should never see the light of day.
The second, entitled Afterlife, chronicles Gary’s last illness and passing. It is not as grim as it sounds – and the day is coming when I may review it with a more impartial eye.
The third volume spans 2004-2016, and is the source of today’s poems. There is nothing magic about the cut-off date of 2016, other than I chose it as an end point in order to facilitate editing and finalizing. Plus, I had the sense that I was at last developing a voice that I could explore further in volume 4 (2017 – present).
Since April is National Poetry Month, and since Spring is my favorite season, the time is right and appropriate to break cover and put some work out there. I hope you enjoy them.
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