Bruce Whealton: Existential Writing

Let me continue with my discussion on becoming and the subsequent idea of being a poet, which I began with a prior posting here entitled “Comments on my poem ‘Gifts’”

I had started to explore my interest in poetry, some time in 1991 when I had a mentor by the name of Martin Kirby.  I would visit him on Sunday’s and read some of my own poetry, get guidance, and listen to poetry that he wrote and we’d read poetry from famous poets.  His wife was there as well, Peggy.  These were somewhat like “readings” but at the time I had never read to a group of strangers.  I knew them from the church that my parents and I attended.  My mother had said to Martin that I was interested in poetry.  So, I guess I had started to think of myself as a poet back in 1991.  Martin was a professor of English Literature and Creative Writing at Paine College in Augusta, GA.

It was the advice and support that I got from Martin that helped me see myself as a poet in the making.  He offered so many suggestions, guidelines and more.  He would also tell me if and when a poem was “publishable.”  He also strongly pushed the notion of many, multiple revisions in writing poetry.