The Speak Easy

How much revision goes into your work?

Todd Moore: Some, not much.

Misti Rainwater-Lites: I revise as I go along. But sometimes, not often, I revise poems years later.

A.D. Winans: Most of my poems are spontaneous and require little if any revision, but as I have grown older, I find myself going back over old poems and revising them.  It’s most dropping lines or maybe adding something, or changing line breaks, things like this.

Hosho McCreesh: I hand-write or type the first draft; I make changes on that draft; a few days later I go back to it &, if I still like it, I re-type it into the computer…making changes or cuts as I do; I look at it one last time before I start submitting it…so what goes out is a 3rd or 4th draft, I’d say. I try not to stray too far from the original thrust though–& don’t believe in heavy re-writes after long periods of time. If the poem doesn’t get accepted somewhere–I either retire it, or scrap it–saving only the strong lines I like. I’d rather try to write the same poem 5 times then work & rework the first version into spoiled milk.

THE SPEAK EASY…

Rusty Truck: How often do you participate in readings/are they important in the promotion of poetry?

Todd Moore: Reading poetry to strangers for nothing is a mug’s game.  Whenever I get the itch for a little pain, I do it.

William Taylor Jr. Reading are a good way to introduce your work to a wider audience.  Of course, that only works if people actually show up.  I like reading my work, and listening to the audience reaction can be a good way to judge whether or not your poems are doing what you meant for them to do.

Chris Toll: Get out there and read in public. Often. Read where people adore you. Read where everyone is drunk and ignoring you. Read.

Father Luke: Funny about that. I seem to rub people the wrong way. I was born in Santa Cruz, California. Santa Cruz is kind of a trendy little poetry corner now, with both the Small Press and the Large. The small press poets are much better, which is usually the case.

The Speak Easy

Rusty Truck:  Do you have a particular place or routine where you write best?

Christopher Robin:  Whenever I travel, which is often, I take a stack of letters and poetry notes with me, get a motel room or a campground and get more writing and reading done than at home. Vegas is great for poetry. There’s something about writing and gambling that I really love.

Todd Moore:  Anywhere in the world is fine as long as the lines are coming.

William Taylor Jr. I tend to get most of my ideas and notes that eventually become poems from just walking around the city and hanging out.  The bars, the streets, whatever.  I generally hammer it all together at my desk at home.

The Speak Easy

Rusty Truck:   If you could change one thing…?

Todd Moore: I’m so used to this anarchy.  I’d be lost without it.

Chris Toll: We’d live on a planet at peace where everybody had enough to eat and a roof over his or her head.

Bradley Mason Hamlin: People shouldn’t have to work for the illusion of money.

Father Luke: Nope. Nothing.

David Pointer:  I’d put political poetry back in the major newspapers and political poets would be included on political television shows-even Jon Stewart’s show.

The Speak Easy

Scot:  Since my background is in education, do you have any regrets when you were in high school—anything you wished you had done different?

Jack Henry:  I love this question and the answer is YES!
High school is nothing but regret to some.  For me, specifically.  I was the biggest LOSER in 9th and 10th grade, and half of 11th grade.  Gawky, too tall, too skinny, bad hair, bad teeth, acne, no personality, clumsy, nervous, zero confidence, etc.

Mid point in 11th grade (1981) I had an epiphany.  I stop carrying about the opinions of others.  This worked for me and I eventually cleaned up, started dating, fit in, etc.  But it also failed me.  I went so far the other way I lost invaluable learning opportunities.  Back then I thought the teachers were idiots (in retrospect many were) and had nothing to offer.

The Speak Easy Now Appearing at the Rusty Truck

RT: What responsibility do you have as a poet?

FN Wright: I think all writers (poets included) should write to entertain the reader & not write to be writing or “famous” as some poets I know seem hell bent on doing. So many young poets seem determined to become the next Bukowski when they haven’t lived his life. Tried emulating it perhaps which of course is impossible to do I know one poet who feeds off others while trying to convince the reader they have actually lived the life they write about when in fact they haven’t. But the main responsibility is to write a poem that the readers can relate; and not make everything so bleak. There is a lot of humor in life & even death. Some poets need to lighten up some.

Bradley Mason Hamlin: None. Absolutely nothing. If a poet tells you he or she has a responsibility, he or she is an idiot, a liar, and a narcissist.

Christopher Robin: Well, I have to peel my guests off the floor every once in awhile, but other than that it is only to tell the truth. All poets have that responsibility, I believe, no matter what; about our country and our neighborhoods.

William Taylor Jr: I suppose if you really feel the need to go and call yourself a poet, in my opinion your main responsibilities are to cut out the bullshit and write honestly.  And strive hard to find an original voice.  The world doesn’t need more bullshit poetry.  If you have nothing to contribute, your time would be better spent elsewhere.