I remember this poem from “You Could Make This Place Beautiful” and loved the sheer quirkiness and thought provoking nature of it. I also love the choices that you talk about and the conversational tone you take in this particular piece. It feels like we are a part of the poem and the conversation, making it feel warm and inviting.
Hi Deb—usually when I chose an ampersand, it’s because it feels lighter and quicker to me, or because I want to keep the line length a bit shorter (especially when there are multiple ands in a line), or both.
Thanks for the insightful peek into your poetry writing process! I am curious about where in the writing process (first draft, revision) you made your decisions about form, i.e. couplets and line endings.
Thanks, Justine. Form doesn’t happen in the first handwritten draft, but usually starts coming together when I type it up, and then may change as I continue to shape and revise it.
I loved seeing the reasoning and value of your line breaks and form. I try to break lines with intent, but sometimes my breaks still feel superfluous. As a result, the tension created adds an awkward rhythm. Reading your annotations is helping me figure this all out. Thank you!
I remember this poem from “You Could Make This Place Beautiful” and loved the sheer quirkiness and thought provoking nature of it. I also love the choices that you talk about and the conversational tone you take in this particular piece. It feels like we are a part of the poem and the conversation, making it feel warm and inviting.
That last sentence, Kevin! Thank you.
Thanks so much, Maggie. I was curious why you chose ampersands versus “and.” Was it to tie the two words as a unit?
Hi Deb—usually when I chose an ampersand, it’s because it feels lighter and quicker to me, or because I want to keep the line length a bit shorter (especially when there are multiple ands in a line), or both.
Gotcha! Thanks for the reply.
Thanks for the insightful peek into your poetry writing process! I am curious about where in the writing process (first draft, revision) you made your decisions about form, i.e. couplets and line endings.
Thanks, Justine. Form doesn’t happen in the first handwritten draft, but usually starts coming together when I type it up, and then may change as I continue to shape and revise it.
Great, thank you Maggie!
This poem hit me right in the gut. Thank you for sharing. It's gorgeous
Thank you, Katie!
I needed this today. Thank you.
Thanks for reading, Wendy.🙏
I loved seeing the reasoning and value of your line breaks and form. I try to break lines with intent, but sometimes my breaks still feel superfluous. As a result, the tension created adds an awkward rhythm. Reading your annotations is helping me figure this all out. Thank you!
I’m so glad to hear it, Jeremy—thank you!
Thank you for sharing these insights into your choices. I teach AP Literature and will be pairing this poem with Sharon Bryan's "Body and Soul."