Poetry & the Imagination

Yesterday we were privileged to have published poet Kate Colby reading from two of her most recent books of poetry: The Return of the Native and Beauport. Kate worked as an adjunct faculty professor last semester teaching poetry here at Roger Williams University and also reads submissions for roger. Kate discussed the historical influences that inspired much of her work.

In a conversation with fellow roger staff member and Creative Writing major Shannon Seamen we noted how well she read poetry and prose despite the fact that she had a cold. Shannon was especially impressed with the control she had over her voice and the connection she had with her work. Had Colby not said that it was her first time reading prose, we agreed that the audience might have never known. As each idea brought up through the prose flowed to the next, you eventually realized how far Colby’s prose had taken you.

Per the usual, Colby answered questions once she finished with her reading. Shannon was particularly interested about her response to how much research she uses in her writing. Colby responded that she researches a topic prior, absorbing everything she can on the subject and then puts the research away. Colby found that the best way to use research in her poetry was to let it get a little “fuzzy” in her head before she sat down to write. In this way her research works as a point of inspiration and she does not concern herself with fact-checking. Shannon asks: how do you use your research in your writing, and how intensely do you research your subject before sitting down to write?

In my own processing of Kate Colby’s poetry and prose reading I wondered, what makes a poetry reading the most enjoyable, besides the obvious, of course (intonation, speed of reading, etc.). From Colby’s reading I found, in my opinion at least, a pleasing poetry reading should make you want to close your eyes while the poem takes you outside of where you physically are. It reminds me of when you are little and listening to your favorite story made you imagine the world that the story was describing. Does anyone who attended the Kate Colby reading feel the same way as me? Do you ever feel this way when attending other poetry readings? Could this connection to the world of imagination be part of the reason why we enjoy hearing poetry readings?