Each day in April, in honor of National Poetry Month and our third anniversary issue (find out how to get a copy HERE), we are running an interview with a poet who has been published in Gyroscope Review. Read on.
National Poetry Month Interview Series: Interview with Poet Daniel Edward Moore
How will you celebrate National Poetry Month? I am a co-founder of the Oak Harbor Poetry Project, which is a monthly reading at the Oak Harbor Library in Oak Harbor, Washington. In April, we are offering my workshop, “Writing Poetry Inside Out,” free to the public.
Pen, pencil or computer first? Most of the time, I begin early drafts of poems on the computer, which evolve there as well.
Who/what are your influences? My work is deeply informed by reclaiming Biblical history and then synchronizing it with erotica and Buddhist psychology. Nick Cave and Leonard Cohen have a serious impact on my work, as does the performance work of Marina Abromivic.
What topic is the hardest for you to write about and why? I would say, the art of poetry itself is the hardest thing to write about because it is so radically subjective and experiential. It’s like trying to describe the breath or breathing.
What was the worst writing idea you ever had? I really don’t have what I would call a “worst” idea. But as far as subject matter, in general, I think working with nature as a topic, in any form, is very difficult to do well, due to its already imperfect perfection.
What authors do you love right now? Rachel McKibbens, Michael Bazzett, Ocean Voung, and Sam Sax.
What is the most important role of poets in 2018? I think perhaps the most important role of poets at any time is to be radically honest about who you are, and how your work can be both a mirror of yourself and the world you live in, both of which can shine and shatter, one poem at a time. What really matters is to enrapture and disturb.
Where do you go when you need to recharge? I live on Whidbey Island in Washington, which is on the Northwest corner of America, and is truly one of the most beautiful places in the world. So, I don’t have to go far if I choose to be in a natural solitary space of being. But in my living room at 4:00 AM, every day, in front of Buddha with my puppies is a sacred place for me.
What is your favorite end-of-the-day drink? Either water or a glass of red wine.
Daniel Edward Moore lives in Oak Harbor, Washington. His most recent publications include his book, Confessions Of A Pentecostal Buddhist, published last year and available on Amazon, and his poem, “Parasympathetic Pink,” in a recent issue of Natural Bridge. Visit Daniel’s website: danieledwardmoore.com. He is also on Facebook.