how memories turn into poetry according to Charles Simic

First remember Grandpa, write some lines, put in a dog, and lose Grandpa, he explains.

One hopes that a poem will eventually arise out of all that hemming and hawing, then go out into the world and convince a complete stranger that what it describes truly happened…Compared to the other arts, poets spend most of their time scratching their heads in the dark. That's why the travel they prefer is going to the kitchen to see if there is any baked ham and cold beer left in the fridge.

via nybooks.com

It sounds a lot like writing a novel, except that I'd be looking for humous and carrots.

Filed under: Literary Tagged: poetry