The Poetry Project - July

Here are my answers to the Meet and Greet Questionnaire posed as the beginning of the newly revamped Poetry Project. (i.e. Read More, Blog More)

1) Why do you want to join the Poetry Project?

My goal is twofold. I wanted to push myself to expand and take chances as well as connect with more bloggeres who enjoy poetry. Although I post a lot of poetry on my blog, before Read More, Blog More I never wrote about it. And also, there are hundreds (thousands?) of blogs about books, but relatively few about poetry.

2) Do you have a favourite poet?

Not really. My favorite changes with my mood or if I find something new. Wisława Szymborska however, is never far from my heart. Her poetry seems to reach out and touch me when I'm not expecting it.

3) Hopefully this will go longer than a year. Do you have any suggestions for monthly themes?

I generally have a difficult time thinking up that sort of thing.  Looking back over my blog I find I do tend to have themes, but unofficially and short term. I am often moved by current events and that's nearly impossible to plan for. I'll have to keep thinking about it.

4) What are your experiences with poetry in the past? Have they been positive or negative?

My reading experience has been positive. Since I was reading way above my level at an early age I was used to not always understanding all I read and that muted the blow of poetry's innate opacity. It was only when I began looking to others to help me understand and create (teachers, etc.) that my experiences began to sour. I touched on that in my first Read More, Blog More post.

5) Tell us about a poem or poet that has had a profound effect on you. If you can’t think of a poem, how about a song? Or a line from a story?

Funny. I also wrote about this for Read More, Blog More. To this day I can still feel the 'shock of recognition' that came with reading Edna St. Vincent Millay's I, Being Born a Woman and Distressed.

6) What frustrates you about poetry or the way we talk about poetry?

There's not enough! Seriously, I enjoy the variety in the type of posts and the opportunity to discover new poets and perspectives. My frustration came as I found people dropping off. I love reading the contributions of all the participants and the round ups are like candy.

7) Tell us something about yourself that has nothing to do with poetry!

I returned to school for a teaching credential as a 'mature' student and graduated just in time for the beginning of the yearly teacher purge. (My blog started as an assignment for one of my classes.) I work part-time as a tutor for at risk students. I keep my sanity by gardening and I am slowly turning my small urban yard into a tiny farm. (which I can talk about ad nauseam) No livestock, just produce. And ... I read continually.  . . .