Beyond the Gates
How has your idea of poetry changed since you began writing poems?
How do you begin a poem?
Susan Kinsolving: The poem begins me.
I find something that activates my imagination. For me, some-
times it’s language. Sometimes it’s an image. For some poets,
they see an image and apply language to it. For other poets, they
are listening for language and that starts a poem. For me, it’s
mostly language. Sometimes it’s visual.
As an educator at The Hotchkiss School, you teach poetry to students and
conduct workshops around the world. How do you teach poetry and can
anyone become a poet?
Susan Kinsolving: I think the appreciation of poetry can be
taught. Some aspects of writing can be taught, but certain
things cannot be taught.
The Keystone Magazine 104