I have a treat for you all. I’m visiting today with someone whom I’ve come to know over the past few years, though not as well as I’d like. Poet or playwright, Walt Wojtanik is someone to emulate, especially in this world of verse and meter.
Walt has made a place for himself in the world of poetry and in the hearts of those who’ve come to know him, even a little. On his poetry site “Poetic Bloomings,” that he co-administers with Marie Elena Good, he describes himself as a hibiscus.
I can see that about him; a large, brilliant carmine blossom, waving from its post at the end of branch, daring others to do as much, always teetering on the verge of romance or insight. And while the blossom might be short-lived, the impact of its existence is not. Walt’s poetry always touches the reader, whether with romance, humor, or philosophy.
This hard-working poet writes so prolifically that his cache of work boggles the mind. During the Poetic Asides PAD challenges, he contributes three or more new poems per day, all while administering multiple websites and taking care of the rest of his life. For the 2010 PAD challenge, he was selected as the Poet Laureate; a well-deserved title.
Hello, Walt. I want to thank you for doing this interview. I have some small idea of how busy you are with your own work, and I appreciate you taking time out to spend with us.
Walt: Thanks for the invitation to chat, Claudette. I’m flattered that you would deem my work as worthy.
Claudsy: It’s my pleasure. When I first met you, you were doing the Micro Poetry page on Facebook. I admit to being intimidated by you and all of the “Old-timers” that contributed regularly. Would you tell us about your work habits when it comes to poetry?
Walt: Although I have been writing song lyrics for 43 years, my poetry has only seen resurgence for the past four years. Attempting the 2009 Poetic Asides April Poem-A-Day Challenge, I began a journey that has brought me to this point in my writing career. It was surely serendipity in every sense of the word.
In being prodded to take on the challenge by a good friend, it had put me in contact with some incredible and very talented people. You mentioned Marie (Marie Elena Good). Three days into April I was ready to give up that foolishness and resign myself to the fact that I was a dreamer thinking I could write anything worth people’s attention. She placed a comment that was supportive and nurturing and kick started my muse into high gear. I built confidence and quite the following from that point.
Writing a poem a day was indeed a challenge, but writing 7 to 10 poems a day bordered on the certifiable. Half way through the first challenge I established my blog THROUGH THE EYES OF A POET’S HEART (link below) to keep my poems organized.
Claudsy: You and Marie Elena (whom I adore) have collaborated on two websites. Both are marvelous for the reader and aspiring poets alike. How did the two of you choose to create Across the Lake, Eerily? Both title and site are terrific.
Walt: I am from Buffalo, New
Cover of Fairest
We poets have been put on the bench this morning for the prompt: write a judging poem. You can be the judge or, if you prefer, you can be the one judged. Okay, Robert. Here goes.
Guilty
Aren’t we all?
Don’t we cringe
When faced with stares
That bring blushes
To cheeks, downcast eyes?
Who can say with truth
They never did wrong?
Who can stand upright
Without guilt lying within?
Who can judge any but self?
© Claudette J. Young
Have you ever had one of those lines that haunt you, keep running through your mind so that it zips back through at the oddest times? Me too. Those over at Poetic Bloomings must have had the experience as well, because they gave us the opportunity to take care of that problem today.
The poetry prompt this morning was to “take the last line of a poem you’ve already written this year and make it the first line of a new poem. Like a dutiful poet, I complied. Here’s the result. I took the last line of my poem for Day 13 of the PAD Challenge and used it for a different concept for Poetic Bloomings. I hope you enjoy the irony.
Beauty
A sacrifice to her hourglass self,
Her life becomes a painful series
Of diets, exercise, and calorie counting,
Striving always to be Mirror’s perfect
Reflection, a temple to evoke envy
From all who witness her magnificence.
Ah, the resounding pity, should anyone
Guess she wept each day for the luxury
Of tasting just one sliver of birthday cake.
Queens pay, too, for being the Fairest of Them All?
© Claudette J. Young
Please leave a comment if it suits your fancy.
Related articles
- Mixing It Up with Poetry (claudsy.wordpress.com)
- Poetics: Duty Calls! (dversepoets.com)
- National Poetry Month (asolitaryramble.wordpress.com)
![]()
Today’s prompt on Poetic Asides was simple. Write a mixed-up poem, no restrictions on subject or how you mix it up.
Again, wide open prompts like this one bring out a creative spark in people who must be seen to be believed. Humor cuddles with inspiration; absurdity takes a swing at nonsense, at the same time that both end with profound observations; teasers dive off the board into a sea of emotive pieces that defy categories; and cento makes an appearance from a pro. You just can’t predict what you’ll find inside the prompt’s comment section.
Take mine, for instance. When I began writing this morning, I intended to write about having been given the wrong directions for driving to a specific location. Not a difficult assignment from myself.
I got eight lines in and realized that Muse was dictating again on a subject that paralleled my intent. It became inspirational instead, surprising me as much as anyone. And I allowed it. Here it is for your perusal. Enjoy reading.
Much Needed Surprise
I followed your directions,
Though there were missteps.
I’d begin once again,
Hoping to make no detours.
I left early but arrived on time
To your doorstep, a marvel sublime.
A picket fence greeted me,
Banking rivers of pansies,
Holding back a flood of color.
I didn’t think you’d remember
My favorite flowers and all.
You kept my swing company
Until I arrived to feel the peace,
Created for me by your side.
There, within your glory I’ll
Live for all eternity, a child
Learning To Be as one with thee.
© Claudette J. Young 2012
Below is the poem I wrote this morning for Poetic Bloomings, which required verse focused on “senses” in all their definitions.
Sense and Sense Ability
We hear world’s echoes,
And see daydreams unfold.
Aromas fill our heads instead of humor,
With joys known or
Disgust at odorous repeats.
Fingers trace life’s passing,
While feet feel roads beneath.
And taste sensations
Keep our appetites replete.
© Claudette J. Young 2012
I have a treat for you all. I’m visiting today with someone whom I’ve come to know over the past few years, though not as well as I’d like. Poet or playwright, Walt Wojtanik is someone to emulate, especially in this world of verse and meter.
Dear Claudsy … A thoroughly delightful and professional
Truly, an interview on both sides of the “mike” that expressed the individual
article illuminating the multi-faceted accomplishments of Walt Wojtanik
until as a loving polished diamond he sparkled on the screen…
Thanks to you both for a wonderful kick-off to a new week … “blossoming”
poetically and for all I know with some “eerily” synchronistic connections to
come
and individusl abundant talent:) of CJY. & WW… THANK YOU BOTH !
Two thumbs WAY UP!
Clauds, you did a fabulous job! In part because Walt writes his heart, and I read every syllable of his work, I tend to think I know just about everything about him. Silly me. You’ve unbolted a cubby and exposed buried bits of our brilliant Buffalonian. Bravo!
Walt, I SO want to see one of your plays. I have this dream in my head of an audience filled with all of us who have been captured and changed by your words. I think you’d be surprised at the auditorium we would need to hold all of us.
You two dear people did my heart good this morning.
Okay, since I’m used to multiple postings … This one for Walt.. for the single reader out there who may just have come onto the Internet this morning for the first time… Walt is perhaps the most prolific, profusely talented and passionate poet in cyberspace or flying above it as Santa Clause… There is “prolific” and then there is prolifically consistently good .. Walt is the latter, whether a romantic sonnet, an edgy repartee, a piece of slice of life commentary, a poem arranged in a startling accurate form, a bantered beginning of a volley of commentary.. well the list of earned accolades goes on… Moreover, he has willingly shared his own vulnerability in his journey as a creative spirit that comforts, and inspires the work and personal voyages of untold numbers of others. WW… perhaps Worderful Walt
. Thank you for it all … always a fascinating rich ride .. Next stop? Who knows ? … therein lies the wonder-full excitement….that will keep us always tuned in….
Oh Marie … What a lovely comment for your “pardner across the lake” …. I still remember that long ago time when you and Walt were sitting in a ” poetic tree” your collaboration just budding… I recall offering to ” help” with your new project if need be, not realizing what has of course become apparent that you were two kindred spirits, the “best two friends who never met” … and how that connection would grow and so profusely blossom for each individualky and both of you as a team! ….
)))
Clauds, I am so pleased that you interviewed Walt. I’m a huge fan of his poetry, and it’s fun to know a bit more about the man behind the ryhmes. Well done on a very good interview!
Thank you, Walt. Glad I could accommodate. You might just have to reprise those thespian offerings for a small tour of their own. You never know where that might lead. I’m also ghad that this interview was a good experience for you. You were a marvelous subject and more than accommodating in your own right.
Please hurry with the screenplay, okay. I’d really like to know that story.
Hear, hear!
Thanks, Misky. This has been such a great return to interviewing. I couldn’t have chosen better. I can’t help but think the choice was inspired.
Definitely LIKE! Well worth the use of a click!
Thank you so much, RJ. It’s a keeper and so it Walt.
Isn’t is funny how long we can know “something” about a person and then “Phttt” there’s suddenly an entire slew of facts and details we aren’t expecting that come flooding out onto the table to be sorted through? Thanks for the kind words, Kelly. Glad not to disappoint.
And that theater would be really crowded, if with no one but poets.
P.S. If you love his words on “paper,” you NEED to HEAR them in his own voice, with his own inflections and heart-displaying splendor. And cute-as-all-get-out accent.
In other words, get a CD.
Marie Elena
Thanks for reminding me, Marie. A gotta be heard to be believed experience.
Thank you, Claudsy, for getting Walt to fill in some of the gaps for us. His output is such that I am regularly left open-mouthed at its quality, and also the daunting quantity! I reckon he must live 48 hours in every 24. Thank you, Walt, for all you do for the poetry community.
You’re more than welcome, Viv. I don’t think I could have asked a better premier interviewee. He’d a phenom as far as I’m concerned, too. So glad you liked my offering. He made it what it is. All I had to do was think up questions. He had the hard part.