@Leslie–you can read the poem which ends on the “gentle indifference of rain” here: http://bit.ly/b13g7x

@velveteenrabbi–impressive about Hickock’s writing schedule. I love it when people debunk the mystique around writing by telling it like it is!

Some years ago, when I was running a literary arts nonprofit called Inkberry (now, alas, defunct) I had the chance to have dinner with poet Bob Hicok before he gave a poetry reading for us. I remember hearing about how he wrote his incredibly dazzling first book of poems between 5:30am and 8am on Saturdays, the only time he had all week; he was working in the automotive tool and die industry at the time. That remains an inspiration to me.

Also”
I listen for places where the music gets clunky, and sometimes experiment wildly re-casting a poem in tight couplets into a prose poem, messing around with the flow on the page. Normally, though, I find a poem just needs some tightening to realize what it is there to realize. Then the question becomes: Is it worth being read by anyone else? If the answer is “No,” I move on.

I abide in that.

Now going to go read some of Robert’s poems.

The Way It Is

There’s a thread you follow. It goes among
things that change. But it doesn’t change.
People wonder about what you are pursuing.
You have to explain about the thread.
But it is hard for others to see.
While you hold it you can’t get lost.
Tragedies happen; people get hurt
or die; and you suffer and get old.
Nothing you do can stop time’s unfolding.
You don’t ever let go of the thread.

~ William Stafford ~