It should be no surprise to learn that artists will frequently reach for the same subjects of inspiration, be it painting, film, or writing whenever feeling compelled. Often, the ideas will arrive in cycles—not all at once, but in pieces. However, when it comes to poetry, I have shared that in my early years I struggled with narrative, i.e., what the hell am I trying to say? Certain phrases would arrive easily, but arranging them into something of meaning proved difficult. As result, I knew which poets better suited me when attempting to strengthen this weakness, or rather, which ones should I study more? From whom will I benefit? 

The point is not so much to fixate on one’s weakness, but to recognize it and then learn how to improve. Somewhat akin to an athlete, train enough that weak muscle and soon that muscle can become a strength. One poet that has traversed with me throughout the years is Kenneth Rexroth (1905-1982). Not only for his appreciation of nature and how it relates to existence, but with his free verse style, he was able to be unbound by limits. What I mean is that his poems often seem like poetic prose, but when broken carefully, the narrative builds to a moment most memorable. Take, for example, his poem, “On What Planet”: […]