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Quote by Matthea Harvey

“As a reader I don't distinguish between confessional and non-confessional work. After all, how do we even know that certain "I" poems are confessional? It's a tricky business, this correlating of the speaker and the poet.”

Quote by Matthea Harvey

Author

Matthea Harvey is an American poet, born on September 3, 1973. Her work is known for its unique style and rich imagination, often blending poetry, music, and theatrical elements. more

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“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.”

Ifs Way Writing I Can Matter Reason Taken Feet Poet Drug Rounds Tendencies Kicks Confession Persona Donkey

Author:Matthea Harvey

“Some of my favorite poems are "confessional" poems written in the voices of aliens ("Southbound on the Freeway" by May Swenson" and "Report from the Surface" by Anthony McCann), sheep ("Snow Line" by John Berryman) or a yak ("The Only Yak in Batesville, Virginia" by Oni Buchanan).”

May Voice Lines Written My Favorite Surface Snow Aliens Reports Sheep Virginia Freeways Yaks

Author:Matthea Harvey

“"Confessional poetry" is another one of those labels. It goes in and out of fashion.”

Fashion Labels Poetry Is

Author:Matthea Harvey

“I suppose it's useful in designating writing that tends to come from personal experience, work that delineates an "I," but it's a loose lasso, one which may rope certain poems by one poet and not others.”

Writing May Certain Poet Rope Personal Experiences

Author:Matthea Harvey

“People "confess" can be wildly different. I might go into the confessional and say, "Father, what is my obsession with miniatures?"”

People Different Might Father Obsession Miniatures

Author:Matthea Harvey

“I also like poems that are haunted by a structure or a narrative, or poems that frisk flirtatiously at the boundary of sense.”

Structure Boundaries Narrative

Author:Matthea Harvey

“Not everyone is going to like every carnival ride.”

Carnivals Carnival Rides

Author:Matthea Harvey

“Teaching is a great way to keep learning.”

Way Teaching Keep Learning

Author:Matthea Harvey

“When I get interested in a new topic I teach a class on it. There's a graduate seminar I teach in which the students and I try to expand the terminology we use to talk about poetry as well as expand our notion of what makes a poem - we read source texts on architecture, dance, photography, film and the graphic novel.”

Trying Wells Use Film Class Teach Novel Students Source Photography Notion Architecture Graduates Topics Graphic Graphic Novels Terminology Seminars

Author:Matthea Harvey

“To be a poet you have to experiment.”

Poet Experiments

Author:Matthea Harvey