Like many writers I know, I keep a taboo list. Nothing too long or formal, this is simply a list of words I must not write—at least at first, when beginning a new piece. Trees are there on my taboo list right now.
I See You in There: the Villanelle
Like most poetry built on refrains, the villanelle steers away from narrative ideals, away from conversation and linear exchange
My Sestina is a Space Six-Shooter
My favorite poetic form, the sestina, gives me space to explore implication.
The Ghosts This Time of Year
A tradition fallen out of fashion, I find it a shame we’re not often telling ghost stories at Christmas time.