On Becoming a Poet

“ON BECOMING A POET gratifyingly is not a how to for becoming one. These are the stories of what transpired as and when the realization occurred. Or: “The first time it happened,” to use Mary Mackey's phrase. “It”—the proximate cause, and then the poetry itself—was a pepperwood tree. It was a Mrs. Sullivan who stopped to care. It was the nomination of Robert Bork. It was the school chorus as an opt-out from gym. It was a translation of a Tang dynasty poem into English. Find these instigations here and then find yours.”

—Al Filreis, Kelly Writers House, University of Pennsylvania