In terms of process, Contemplating Eve was a lesson in writing, so-to-speak. When writing Contemplating Eve, I wrote without inhibition and simply for the joy of writing. I often used stream of consciousness in order to generate a flow of language and ideas. As a result, the poetry in the book attained a freedom and an energy that defined much of the work.
By contrast, I took a different approach with A Dawn Run Hot with Morning. I found myself in a different frame of mind with this book—I had reached a new level of consciousness. The result is poetry that is more structured and more stylized. A Dawn Run Hot with Morning has been about taking my time with the creative process.
While writing the poetry for A Dawn Run Hot with Morning, I worked to enhance my style by reading other poets. I read everything from the Iowa Review to The Dirty Napkin (www.dirtynapkin.com). These are literary magazines, which include the work of established writers (and poets), as well as that of up-and-comers. I prefer to stay current by reading these vanguard publications. That said, I do read the anthologies of postmodern American poets, which include the likes of Lawrence Ferrlinghetti and Amiri Baraka.
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My favorite poet for the moment is Philip Larkin. His use of nature's landscape as an emotional canvass in his poetry has inspired my work.
I did a lot of writing and a good deal of experimentation to create my new book. I chose 50 of 80 poems, written in the last six months, to include. I experimented with theme, imagery, musicality and structure. The result is a distinct and robust style which is both readable and enjoyable.
Admittedly, there are a few quirks to my writing process. Some writers need utter silence or perhaps light music in the background as they write. I am unique in that I prefer loud jazz music (anything Miles Davis) as I write. Somehow my mind, when forced to make order out of chaos, works that much harder to produce surprisingly concise and cogent poetry.
Right now, I work with two editors: one, a copy editor, who handles the technical aspects of the editing process, and the other, a general editor, who manages matters of style & consistency. Each plays an equally important role, not only for readability, but for content.
Working with the copy editor is inspiring in that fixing a minor technical error can transform a poem. Similarly, working with a general editor has been a joy because we discuss matters of content. We frequently get into discussions concerning the artistic and literary merits of my work, comparing my artwork and poetry to some of the best-known and the canonized, as points of reference. He frequently sheds light on a dynamic of my poetry which I had not considered.
The entire process of creating A Dawn Run Hot with Morning has been eye-opening to me. And as I note in the book’s introduction, “As for the profound satisfaction that comes with insight, the feeling is electric.”
