Screen name: Glenn Marchand
Published Name: Glenn Marchand
Age: 37
Place of Birth: Hollywood, California.
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A bit about myself:
I am an ambitious poet. Mysticism, Existentialism and Theology are my core interest. Thus, my undergraduate work was in Religious Studies and Philosophy, and my graduate work is focused in Theology. Topics such as life, death, paradox, Spirit, and love, move me deeply. For this reason, many of my poems are colored by such topics. In essence, I am alike to many aspiring writers. That is, we each have a vision, and written expression moves our souls. Therefore, we strive to create artistic poems and prose that reach into the hearts of our readers. And we hope to one day receive a measure of acknowledgement for our poetic contributions. Hence, we strive to compose daily, if only to master our craft.
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Favorite Poets:
My favorite poem:
It is difficult for me to pick out a favorite poem. Nevertheless, mystic, spiritual poems seem to capture my attention. It moves me to read poems that attempt to picture the mystery of spirituality. The following by Rumi captures the cycle of reincarnation:
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A Stone I died
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A stone I died and rose again a plant;
A plant I died and rose an animal;
I died an animal and was born a man.
Why should I fear? What have I lost by death?
(Rumi)
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When did you first start writing?
And what was your first poem about?
I started writing prose when I was fifteen. My high school sweetheart ignited my flame. Thus, I wrote my first piece of prose, attempting to capture the intensity of our innocent love. I kept the poem for years, but I lost it in transition.
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What inspires you as a poet?
As a poet, I am moved by spiritual, mystical, and religious themes. It amazes me that the spirit appears to be a flickering flame, reaching deep into the human soul, provoking us to composition. Thus, in stillness, I ponder upon the Spirit, in all of its manifestations.
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Writing Development:
As a poet, I still struggle. That is, sometimes the words do not flow smoothly. Nevertheless, my craft has improved over the years. As of the last year, I have been consumed with writing prosaic sonnets. As prose indicates, I have avoided the traditional rhyming scheme, for the purpose of capturing a different essence. But I attempt to follow a rhythmic meter, stemming from a stream of consciousness. However, this method is still in development. And I believe that it is fair to assert that one’s writing technique is always in development.
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My journey
As I mentioned above, my high school sweetheart inspired my initial flare for poetry. She gave me a series of poetry books written by Langston Hughes. I was moved by the richness of his poems. I soon came across the works of Robert Frost and others, and I was moved by the depth, content, and the appearance of simplicity. In an attempt to find my niche, I took a number of poetry classes, as well as classes in literature, which also focuses on both renowned and obscure poets. Nevertheless, it took me some time to get a grasp on a style of writing that came natural to me. Thus, albeit, I appreciate rhyme, I am fond of writing prosaic poems, as it is the case for many contemporary poets. But my journey is a continuous process, as it is for us all.
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What was your “aha” moment, that helped you to decide to publish?
After I had written a number of prosaic poems, where the central theme was the spirit of love, I decided to put together a collection. The process sort of came to me. That is, everything fell into place. Thus, I put together my first book, and self-published it. Nonetheless, I wanted to write another book that went more in depth. This was a challenge for me, for it is difficult to capture in words the movements of the Spirit. But through hard work, I managed to put together a collection of poems that I believe compliment the mystic spirit of love.
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The following links are great sources for inspiration and things related to poetry:
Poet that has influenced me the most:
It is hard to say. However, I’m quite fond of Sufi poetry. The following is a great link to familiarize oneself with the poems of Sufis:
Advice for poets wanting to publish their work:
If one is serious about publishing their work, I would advise him or her to organize their poems in categories. That is, write your book in sections, or make sure that all of your poems resonate with one another. Moreover, I would advise the poet-writer in question to consider self-publishing their book, to avoid being exploited by various publishing companies. Lastly, it is mandatory that the poet-writer advertise their poems on various poetry sites. This gives one the opportunity to receive feedback, and to acquire an audience. Lastly, I would advise the poet-write to compose daily, read daily, and become deeply familiar with one or two topics. This way, the poet-writer acquires a reputation for being deeply informed on the topics in question.
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What methods have worked best for you?
Reading philosophical, poetical and religious writings have helped me to no small degree. In addition, studying my craft, and writing incessantly, has helped to enhance my understanding of my position on various subject-matters such as love, spirit, and the human condition. Most importantly, meditation has strengthened both my spiritual and intellectual disposition.
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A few of my favorite writes:
A few of my favorite writes are as follows: Pablo Neruda’s poem entitled “One hundred Love Sonnets: XVII.”
I don’t love you as if you were the salt-rose, topaz
or arrow of carnations that propagate fire:
I love you as certain dark things are loved,
secretly, between the shadow and the soul.
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I love you as the plant that doesn’t bloom and carries
hidden within itself the light of those flowers,
and thanks to your love, darkly in my body
lives the dense fragrance that rises from the earth.
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I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where,
I love you simply, without problems or pride:
I love you in this way because I don’t know any other way of loving
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but this, in which there is no I or you,
so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand,
so intimate that when I fall asleep it is your eyes that close.
Pablo Neruda
Maya Angelou’s poem entitled “Still I Rise.”
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.
Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I’ll rise.
Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.
Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don’t you take it awful hard
‘Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines
Diggin’ in my own back yard.
You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.
Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I’ve got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?
Out of the huts of history’s shame
I rise
Up from a past that’s rooted in pain
I rise
I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.
And Emily Dickson’s poem entitled “That I Did Always Love.”
That I did always love
I bring thee Proof
That till I loved
I never lived—Enough—
That I shall love alway—
I argue thee
That love is life—
And life hath Immortality—
This—dost thou doubt—Sweet—
Then have I
Nothing to show
But Calvary—
Emily Dickinson
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