Allegory, Writing Retreats, Garden Plots, and Other Musings
I've been writing in the allegorical mode for many years now, and I wondered about this while I was having an e-mail conversation with a poet friend who commented that he could never write as anyone but himself. I suppose it has to do with my own personality. I'm not that comfortable writing as myself. Other poets do it quite well and can use the self to create an allegorical mode, but I just find my own life too boring. The one notable exception to this trend in my "collected works" is Requiem for the Orchard. That collection was a big departure for me in terms of my favored narrative mode. I don't think I'd ever be able to duplicate something like that, but I also want to clarify that there are some allegorical poems in that collection. And that's also not to say that some of the narrative moments in that book aren't written with some poetic license.
Basically, I hate writing about myself. Artistic statements or statements that trumpet my accomplishments are, frankly, awful things for me. This translates itself into my poetic modes as well.
My confessions are allusions.
And so all these prose poems written as allegories as well as all these nocturnes.
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Sarah, Aimee, Joseph, Vikas, Patrick, and Jennifer are going to Millay. I'm SO jealous that they're going, but I couldn't make it work financially. Hopefully they get some writing as well as some serious play accomplished up there.
I've never really been to a writing retreat. Although I had the opportunity to use a house for a month after receiving my GAP grant, I couldn't stay for prolonged periods of time because of childcare issues. Ultimately, I'm not 100% sure it's something that would work for me, given my short attention span and my hyperactivity. I'd probably do other people's laundry or knock on the other fellows cabin doors bugging the hell out of 'em.
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We're putting together a vegetable garden. I've got pictures of our plot, but right now my internet connection is slow. I'll try to post a picture of our cleared land some time today.
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Stacey and I have been working with U. of Akron Press for covers. We'll post some ideas soon! A lot of good cover possibilities out there. Can't wait to show you!
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This has surely been one of the coldest Summers I've ever experienced. We've been having highs in the mid 60's which is perfectly comfortable for me. I'm at the point where I don't do well with extreme heat. I feel sorry for you folks out in the Midwest and on the East Coast.
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Current Spin: