EDP: What is your first memory of encountering poetry?
PSC: First memory? Hmmm . . . that would be a long time ago. Not sure if I can say for certain. I remember reading Dr Seuss — does that count? I also remember a poem that my mother taught to my sisters and me when we were only toddlers. It began: “I’m two years old and I’m going on three …“. (I don’t think I could come up with any memory earlier than that!)
EDP: Tell us a bit about the how, when and why you started to write poetry.
PSC: The ‘how’ is easy: Sprawled out in my bedroom with a pencil, eraser, and a notebook full of paper. (Personal computers didn’t exist back then!)
When? That’s a little tougher. I don’t recall when I wrote my first poem. I do remember writing poetry in grade school, and all through high school and college. Some even appeared in school newspapers and local publications — but only under a pen name. (Heaven forbid anyone find out they were mine!)
Why poetry? Good question! I’ll be darned if I know. It’s what comes to me. I’d love to be able to paint, dance, sculpt, write music — but I’m no good at any of those things. Poetry is a medium I can work with.
EDP: When and where do you write and where do you find your inspiration?
PSC: Morning is probably when I am most productive (though I use the term ‘productive’ loosely, as I am not a particularly prolific writer — yet). I have found that I require lots of quiet solitude in order for ideas to percolate and brew. There are several nice walking trails in town, and most of my ideas seem to attack me while I’m out walking the local trails. I used to carry pen & paper with me so I could stop and capture any thoughts, words, phrases & ideas that came to me along the way. This past Christmas, however, my husband bought me a little digital recorder, which has been a great help! Now, I can “write” and walk at the same time — just don’t ask me to chew gum too!
As for inspiration, there are many different sources: nature, music, news, books, conversation — the list is endless (I hope)! I consider myself lucky for having stumbled upon a couple of poetry websites that offer writing prompts & exercises, and also include a talented bunch of poets willing to provide feedback, support and encouragement. These have been great motivators in getting me writing again.
EDP: Which poet/s do you particularly admire and why?
PSC: Wow! That’s a tough one! Having only recently gotten back into poetry after years away from it, I have to confess that I’m not very well-read when it comes to current, known poets. I used to read a lot of poetry in school — enjoyed the Brownings, Edwin Markham, Robert Frost, A.E. Houseman — was a big fan of (some of) E.E. Cummings writings — but that was a long time ago. These days, most of my poetry reading has been in online poetry forums, and the names I recall are usually the screen names of the folks who write there — which won’t likely mean much to anyone who hasn’t visited those particular websites.
On the other hand, some of my favorite “known poets” are also musicians and lyricists: Rob Thomas, Don Henley, Dan Fogelberg, Billy Joel, Neil Diamond, Jimmy Buffett — to name a few — people who can grab onto my emotions and not let them go. I admire a poet who can, in very few words, tell a story that makes me laugh and/or cry — and makes me want to revisit it again and again. (Of course, lyricists have an unfair advantage over poetry that is simply read — because the music also helps them capture & portray emotion. No fair!)
EDP: What for you constitutes a ‘good poem’? Have you an outright favourite?
(If you have a favourite EDP poem, mention that too.)
PSC: Hmmm . . . what makes for a “good poem”? The qualities I mentioned above are a great start. A good poem makes me feel as if I am inside of it — a part of it . . . as if I could have — or wish I could have — written it myself. I can see, hear, smell, taste & touch what it is about. If it has a nice rhythm, rolls smoothly off the tongue; makes use of poetic devices — metaphor, alliteration, etc…, all of that contributes toward the making of a good poem. But, most importantly, if I read all the way through to the end and come up for air saying, ’Yes! Yes, that’s exactly what it feels like!’ — then go back and read it again — then I’d have to say: that’s a ‘good poem‘.
One single favorite? Oh boy! I’m thinking that’s virtually impossible! There are so many really wonderful poems, I don’t know how I could ever choose just one. And, if I did, I be constantly changing my mind. The same poem will affect me differently on a different day. What doesn’t touch me today, may have new meaning for me tomorrow, or next week, when I am in a different mood or after a new experience. Nope, I don’t see how I could ever pick just one favorite.
Some of the EDP poets I’ve enjoyed reading recently include Amy Corbin, Casey Quinn, Hena Pillai and Logan Scott Jones. (I’m sure there are others, too, but those are the ones I can recall right now.)
EDP: Tell us about your ‘most read’ poem specifically. How did it come into being and take shape and what does it mean to you personally? Did the views of our readers make you see it in a new light?
PSC: “Johnny Appleseed” came into being because I had been visiting those forum-type websites I mentioned earlier (where people input their own poetry and comment on the poems input by others). I found it interesting how the same poem would be interpreted so very differently by the various individuals that read it. One reader may be completely unmoved, unimpressed, under-whelmed — while another felt a strong impact — a connection — with the same poem, and was deeply touched by it. This got me thinking about the whole writing process: how a poet may sweat and struggle from rough draft through multiple edits, until he/she is finally satisfied with the result. The poem is submitted — sent on its way and perhaps published somewhere — well, it’s a bit like wildflowers blowing in the breeze: The poet never knows who — or how many — may read and be touched by his/her words, now or in the future.
Interestingly, EDP readers did express a number of different viewpoints & interpretations that made me go back and re-read the poem from their perspectives. It’s fascinating to me — the different meanings that can be gleaned from a single poem. Roberta mentioned feelings of alienation coming through in the piece, while another reader made mention of how, for her, it described the process of raising children to adulthood. (. . . precious seeds, tossed to the wind, never knowing where they may take root and grow.) I love that interpretation!
EDP: What are you working on now and what are your future plans?
PSC: Ouch! I wish I could offer an interesting and ambitious answer to that, but I haven’t got one — at least not yet. I would definitely like to keep writing and developing as a poet. (I love the feeling of accomplishment I get when I create something that I feel is ‘good’! And when someone else “connects“ with it . . . and when it‘s published.) However, my husband of almost 30 years has just recently retired (after over 35 years of teaching), and all that lovely, quiet solitude (that I mentioned I need in order to write?) has all but disappeared — for the time being, at least. For now, the best I can say is that I am working on striking a balance between my creative, poetry writing side — and the rest of my life. Once I find that, maybe I can figure out where I want to go from there. (Wish me luck!) 
By the way, thanks again for the opportunity to be part of EDP. I hope I’ll be contributing more in the future!
EDP: Thank you for answering so fully. We do indeed wish you luck, and we look forward to reading your future contributions to EDP.
PSC was a faithful practitioner of poetry throughout grade school, high school and college, before a hiatus of several (I won’t say how many) decades. Having recently returned to the art, she has submitted only a few poems, and had fewer still, published. Several of her poems have appeared in Long River Run, and also in Umbrella Online Poetry Journal.
3 Responses to “INTERVIEW WITH PSC”
Comments
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September 22nd, 2009 at 6:21 am
Hey,I am honored…touched, to have my name included amongst these poets, thanks. Thirty years, eh? Wow!
September 23rd, 2009 at 6:21 am
Yes, some very talented writers on this web site! It’s an honor to be included. I’ve enjoyed reading & participating. And, yup, 30th wedding anniversary — coming up in April. (Now, THAT’s an accomplishment!) I’m still amazed at how time can move both slowly & quickly at the same time!
Thanks for the opportunity to participate in EDP. I look forward to reading & (hopefully) contributing too. Thanks!
September 26th, 2009 at 2:15 am
Our 30th is next August, Pamela
1980 most have been a good year to get maried.