Leaning on the railing
near the deep steps down
to the lakeshore
at dusk
on the fourth,
I see you again
looking up,
the back of your sandy head tousled
above your windbreaker
and blue jeans,
your left hand grasping a child’s,
your right index finger
pointing up
silhouetted
weeping stardust
explodes
echoes back
delays
red hearts swell in the sky.
The boy would be four now.
I’d forgotten
the years
the miles
he turns
eyes meet mine
and your smile
lights time,
brilliance
all
over
again.
A.S. ANDREWS answers Every Day Poets' questions about her work:
Tell us how long you have been writing poetry and how did that all start?
I loved to write poems as a child, but then I switched my focus to prose. It’s only in the last few years, and really only the last year, that I’ve gotten back into poetry. Strangely enough, flash fiction led me back, because I started to write pieces that seemed to border between poetry and prose, which led me to ponder prose poetry, and finally to return full circle to poetry itself.
What have been the major influences on your poetry and why?
I know this is vague, but I’d have to say my day-to-day life and the things I’ve seen and places I’ve been have been the major influence on my poetry, because that’s where my images and ideas originate. I’ve always enjoyed reading poetry with straightforward language – Robert Frost for example – so that’s been an influence as well. And the great outdoors is definitely a major influence.
Please talk a bit about your creative process. What inspires you to write a poem and how do you shape your writing?
There’s a certain combination of image and mood that inspires me – something I see that strikes me a certain way or draws a strong emotion. Usually, but not always, I’ll think about a poem for awhile before I write it, not the words exactly, but the idea. Sometimes in the first draft, it will go somewhere entirely different than I envisioned, and I let it. After that, it’s a lot of rewriting until the words flow right.
How do you balance writing with the rest of your life?
Balance is a funny word. I’m not really sure I balance it. I enjoy writing, so I do it whenever I can.
What role do you think poetry and poets play in today’s world?
I think poets can juxtapose all the craziness in today’s world in a way that resounds emotionally and makes people pause, in a way that cuts through the chatter and reminds of us of our humanity. I think the world needs more poetry, in more accessible places.
Where have you been published and what are your plans for future work?
I’ve been published here at Every Day Poets, and I’ve also had flash fiction published at Every Day Fiction, Bewildering Stories, and 365 tomorrows. I’ve published twitter fiction at One Forty Fiction, Seedpod, Cuento Magazine and trapeze magazine. I love writing both poetry and prose, and plan to keep at it. I’d like to publish more of my poetry in the future.
Finally, what is the best bit of writing advice you could share with an aspiring poet?
Read. Read widely. Read every bit of poetry you can get your hands on, and always read a poem more than once.
Please put links to any work you would like to highlight below. Include your blog, if you have one.
I have a blog at http://asandrews.com. There’s a page on my blog with links to my published writing, including my story “Pretending,” which recently won the Flash Fiction Chronicles String-of-10 Three Contest.
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9 Responses to “INDEPENDENCE • by A. S. Andrews
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Comments
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July 7th, 2011 at 7:28 am
Very beautiful poem. The cadence advances the poem wonderfully. I love this poem of measured but deeply felt emotion imaged by the superposition of brilliant light bursting in the sky and brilliant light bursting from a smile.
July 7th, 2011 at 7:37 am
What you said in your interview, “I think poets can juxtapose all the craziness in today’s world in a way that resounds emotionally and makes people pause, in a way that cuts through the chatter and reminds of us of our humanity,” is perfectly illustrated in your poem. Nice!
July 7th, 2011 at 8:36 am
Lovely poem. Set the scene beautifully. Thanks.
July 7th, 2011 at 11:58 am
[...] poem “Independence” is published today at Every Day Poets, along with an interview. I also have new twitter [...]
July 7th, 2011 at 1:11 pm
Beautiful! :]
July 7th, 2011 at 6:31 pm
I couldn’t agree with Kathleen more – I love reading this poem and then reading your take on the poet’s role … and I agree with you. Poetry is NEEDED to cut through the white noise around us and make us feel, observe, and take pause. nice!
July 8th, 2011 at 5:46 am
Great interview.
July 8th, 2011 at 8:10 am
Very nice work.
July 8th, 2011 at 10:46 am
I do think that connection between flash fiction and poetry is very strong in a lot of writers. Thank you Anne.