“I have poetic failures all the time. Many failed poems. I try not to publish those, though some have slipped into each book, since I can't always tell they're failures until later... or I don't want to admit that they are.” WantTryingI CanBookPoeticPublish Author:Matthea Harvey
“There isn't a grand plan at work in the progression of the books with respect to the line. I do want the books to be different from each other, certainly, but I'm more aware of that on the level of theme or structure. I can tell when I'm writing the last of a particular type of poem because the writing is too easy and I start to feel queasy.” WantFeelsWritingI CanBookDifferentLastsEasyLinesLevelsPlansParticularTypeStructureThemeProgression Author:Matthea Harvey
“When I start writing a poem, I can usually know quite early on whether it's a lineated or prose poem, but I don't think I can explain how. It's like deciding whether to wear a skirt or a pair of pants.” ThinkingKnowsWritingI CanProsePairsPantsSkirts Author:Matthea Harvey
“If I begin a poem, "I am a donkey," reason kicks in and says, "She is taking on the persona of a donkey." But if I write, "I have taken so many drugs I can't see my feet," the tendency is to take that as a confession on the part of the poet. Maybe that doesn't matter. I'd almost prefer for it to be the other way round.” IfsWayWritingI CanMatterReasonTakenFeetPoetDrugRoundsTendenciesKicksConfessionPersonaDonkey Author:Matthea Harvey
