"Story of a Poem" by Matthew Zapruder: A Rumination
I’m not sure it’s accurate to say that Story of a Poem by Matthew Zapruder found me when I needed it to find me. It feels more correct to say that things find us as they do–in this case I was out running and listening to the Otherppl podcast with Brad Listi and he was interviewing Zapruder about the book–and we make those things into what we need them to be.
What I know is that their conversation spoke to me. There was a focus on parenting and writing, their respective fatherly triumphs and struggles with children born to different challenges, something I have not experienced, yet can still feel as a fellow father and a human. What really spoke to me, however, was how we, anyone, creates anything at all. That this spoke to me is not surprising, I spend most of my time thinking about how one crafts a creative life and what that can look like. That I am working on a new book which involves a conscious rumination and exploration on the act of creation and family–as well as a focus on a single film that speaks to this, well to me and my family–only further spoke to me.
So let’s say it’s not that I was searching for such a resource, but I was primed to find something such as Story of a Poem and projected all that was in my head onto the work. Not that noting this makes the experience or need of discovering the book, much less reading the book, any less powerful. Take this passage for example from page 34:
Isn’t it a privilege, a student asks, to write poems when the world is burning? I answer, too quickly, Yes. I didn’t mean to sound exactly as I must have, dismissive and snide. I add, in an attempt to convey the sincerity I actually feel, Can we imagine we need to protect, rather than condemn, that privilege in each other…I should have said, I think of the poem as a physical space, a giant museum or forest. I go in and listen. I hear something, write it down, and emerge, hopefully for the better changed.
Or this from page 38:
I have always loved words for what they can do, and for all the different things they can mean. I love how they feel in my mouth. In that way, I am like all writers I know.
Writers don’t choose to write because we want to, we write because we have to, because once the idea of writing is in our heads, it’s impossible to avoid, it becomes our lens into the world, our feelings, a form of self-care. Though it’s also a form of narcissism. The publishing part anyway. We believe, well, have to believe, someone, somewhere cares as much as we do about what we want to say and then want to share it with the world as much as we do.
Which is to say, I believe this as much as I believe Zapruder believes all he has to say about the act of writing.
That’s not what I’m entirely interested in here though.
What grabbed me is what he’s trying to do with Story of a Poem, write something, and use the description of that effort to explore something else, his efforts to make sense of a creative life intertwined with the parental life he’s in. I happily, even greedily, let myself be inspired by his work on the book I was crafting, quoting him and making his thinking mine.
To focus more fully for a moment on Story of a Poem itself, Zapruder's story is about the machinations and mental gymnastics he goes through to write a single poem, to find the words and flow. We follow him on that path, we join him as he looks back at what preceded it as well, and I would suggest that for anyone who talks about how it is hard to make writing look good on screen, to make the act of it exciting and engaging, it’s the complete inverse on the page.
Or it can be.
It also may just be me, I want to read about the creative process at play.
Though it could also just be about Zapruder, which is to say he’s a lovely, focused and intense writer, though more than that, the ways he shares the experience of creating, even becoming a writer in the first place, feels real and lived in. From page 42:
I have come to believe that writing is an endless, shifting negotiation between intention and discovery, ideas brought to the page and and ones uncovered in the process of writing itself, music and truth. Sometimes I know what I want to say. Almost always, I can only discover what I think and believe through the process of writing the poem. I have to let myself be ok with both states…
Yeah.
Zapruder never forgets however, that this is not merely an exercise in understanding how a poem gets written, it’s also about understanding how he is connected to his son, his son is connected to the world, and the act of making art is wrapped-up with both. From page 28:
What is the relation between making poems and learning to be the father of this atypical child? It felt like the same struggle, something he had been trying to learn for so long in his writing and now had to learn in his life. An irresistible force, which could be called love, always drew him back to poetry, to searching out what was strange and beautiful and mysterious and new in language…that same force, something he felt every time he looked at his son, made him want to change himself and the world.
And so it is as I tried to write a book about my love for movies and for my family. How my family of origin sees the world through the movies we watched, and still watch, and when, and how we felt and feel doing so. I am both drawn to write about this and somehow show my children what an important lens the movies we love can be for what they tell us about ourselves and the world we inhabit.
I also tried to figure out what the story of this movie love was for me, this desire to focus on a particular movie, yet all movies too. Though more than that, how doing so might help me make sense of both the family I was born into and created, and further connect with my own children. One thing one learns when trying to tell such a story is that the story is us. And maybe it always is. As Zapruder writes on page 122:
The story I thought I was in—which, to be honest, was bringing me very little happiness, and a lot of shame over the inequities upon which it depends—changed, and keeps changing. I’ve been given this great, unexpected, difficult gift. My challenge is to take everything I have learned, and live up to my story, and the love for my son.
How do we live up to our story?
I have not had the challenges Zapruder has, not as a father certainly, though during the course of Story of a Poem, Zapruder also writes about losing his father, something I know all too well, which in turns becomes part of the story. Like Zapruder, I keep trying to write through all of it however, seeking to make sense of the world as I know it and live it. The hope of course is to find insights and common ground with our readers and the larger universe. And yet, as Zapruder says, “Language is only one way of creating a shared reality. And it is only one way to understand the world.”
True, it is also, however, a starting point, as are the stories we tell with that language, and all writers, as do all people, need to start somewhere.
Review by Ben Tanzer
Ben Tanzer is an Emmy-award winning coach, creative strategist, podcaster, writer, teacher and social worker who has been helping nonprofits, publishers, authors, small business and career changers tell their stories for 20 plus years. He is the author of the soon to be re-released short story collection Upstate and several award-winning books, including the science fiction novel Orphans and the essay collections Lost in Space: A Father's Journey There and Back Again and Be Cool - a memoir (sort of). He is also a lover of all things book, taco, Gin and street art.
To leave a comment
Comments
Story of a Poem by Matthew Zapruder is an introspective journey into the essence and creation of poetry. In this poignant work, Zapruder delves deep into the intricate process of crafting a poem, unraveling the threads of inspiration, language, and emotions that form the tapestry of poetic expression. His words are a rumination on the very act of creating, shedding light on the vulnerability of the poet as they embark on this artistic endeavor. Much like the way Bengal Cats shed their distinct fur, leaving traces of their uniqueness behind, Zapruder's exploration leaves an indelible mark on the reader's understanding of poetry, inspiring them to appreciate the intricate beauty of words and the stories they can tell.
Story of a Poem" by Matthew Zapruder is a thought-provoking exploration of the creative process and the journey that a poem takes from conception to completion. Much like following precise Nerf Rival XXI-1200 instructions to assemble a blaster, Zapruder delves into the meticulous craft of poetry, dissecting the nuances of word choices, metaphors, and the poetic journey itself. He invites readers to contemplate the mysterious and transformative nature of poetry, emphasizing the importance of patience and revision in the quest for artistic expression. Just as assembling a Nerf Rival XXI-1200 requires attention to detail, Zapruder's work highlights the careful consideration and devotion necessary to bring a poem to life, making it a compelling read for both poets and poetry enthusiasts alike.
Story of a Poem is a beautifully written and insightful memoir about the process of writing poetry. Zapruder's honesty and vulnerability, combined with his insights into the nature of poetry itself, make this book a must-read for anyone who loves poetry or is interested in the creative process. And for those who likes bonuses - go to this website.
RECOVER YOUR SCAMMED BITCOIN WITH LOST RECOVERY MASTERS.
Hi, Please be wise, do not make the same mistake I had made in the past, I was a victim of bitcoin scam, I saw a glamorous review showering praises and marketing an investment firm, I reached out to them on what their contracts are, and I invested $55,000, which I was promised to get my first 15% profit in weeks, when it’s time to get my profits, I got to know the company was bogus, they kept asking me to invest more and I ran out of patience then requested to have my money back, they refused to answer nor refund my funds, not until a friend of mine introduced me to Lost Recovery Masters, so I reached out and after tabling my complaints, they were swift to action and within 36 hours I got back my funds with the due profit. I couldn’t contain the joy in me. I urge you guys to reach out to Lost Recovery Masters on their support
email: (lostrecovemast@mail.com) or
WhatsApp: +1(204)819-5505.
Web: https://lostrecoverymasters.com/
BITCOIN RECOVERY IS VERY MUCH REAL, AM A LIVING TESTIMONY!!!!
I was actually fooled and scammed over ( $753,000 ) by someone I trusted with my funds through a transaction we did and I feel so disappointed and hurt knowing that someone can steal from you without remorse after trusting them, so I started searching for help legally to recover my stolen funds and came across a lot of Testimonials about DARK WEB ONLINE HACKERS, Reovery Expert who helps in recovery lost funds, which I can tell has helped so many people who had contacted them regarding such issues and without a questionable doubt their funds was returned back to their wallet in a very short space of time, it took the expert 21 hours to help me recover my funds and the best part of it all was that the scammers was actually located and arrested by local authorities in his region which was very relieving. Hope this helps as many people who have lost their hard earn money to scammers out of trust, you can reach him through the link below for help to recover your scammed funds and thank me later.
Email Address: dwchzone@gmail.com
Or WhatsApp: +1 (803) 392-1735
Website: https://darkwebonlinehackers.com
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR CRYPTOCURRENCY IS LOST OR STOLEN?
If you’ve been duped, there may be little you can do to make things right. You have no other choice except to contact a recovery company. I am aware of numerous trustworthy recovery organizations, but LOST RECOVERY MASTERS are my top option due to how swiftly they assisted me in recovering my lost bitcoins that I had placed with a negligent broker. Contact Lost Recovery Masters. There will surely be steps taken to assist you in locating your misplaced cryptocurrency. They give top agents that are highly qualified and trained to assist you in recovering your stolen or lost cryptocurrencies. Based on my own findings, I wholeheartedly support this healing organization. contact them through
Website https://lostrecoverymasters.com/
Support team Mail Support@lostrecoverymasters.com
WhatsApp: +1(204)819-5505.
Good day everyone.
I want to share a little bit of testimony about how I was able to get my financial breakthrough after a long time of heartbreak from so called scammers, DARK WEB ONLINE HACKERS helped me became what I am right now after I made $500,000 USD from their bank transfer hack service, they are legit everyone needs to work with them contact them via this details
Email: darkwebonlinehackers@gmail.com
Email: info@darkwebonlinehackers.com
Telegram or WhatsApp: +18033921735
Visit: https://darkwebonlinehackers.com
Contact them today and be free of debt and be stable financially DARK WEB ONLINE HACKER ARE THE BEST .
How to recover Cryptocurrency ; Binary Option & fake investments RECOVERY
I advise first-time bitcoin investors to do their research before entrusting any of these Bitcoin investment websites with their hard earned funds. They gain your trust by portraying fake huge profits to convince you to put more funds, till when you invest a substantial sum, they intentionally freeze your account and demand for more payments to have your profits released. I had invested with a bogus company that ripped me off $198000 worth of Crypto, this was close to everything I Had in my savings. special thanks to Captain WebGenesis, whose recovery company put in a lot of effort and made sure I had my money back If you ever find yourself in a similar scenario, you can reach out to Captain WebGenesis through;
Email Add; (Captainwebgenesis@hackermail.com)
Whatsapp; +1(205) 3361020.
How to recover Cryptocurrency ; Binary Option & fake investments RECOVERY
I advise first-time bitcoin investors to do their research before entrusting any of these Bitcoin investment websites with their hard earned funds. They gain your trust by portraying fake huge profits to convince you to put more funds, till when you invest a substantial sum, they intentionally freeze your account and demand for more payments to have your profits released. I had invested with a bogus company that ripped me off $198000 worth of Crypto, this was close to everything I Had in my savings. special thanks to Captain WebGenesis, whose recovery company put in a lot of effort and made sure I had my money back If you ever find yourself in a similar scenario, you can reach out to Captain WebGenesis through;
Email Add; (Captainwebgenesis@hackermail.com)
Whatsapp; +1(205) 3361020.
How to recover Cryptocurrency ; Binary Option & fake investments RECOVERY
I advise first-time bitcoin investors to do their research before entrusting any of these Bitcoin investment websites with their hard earned funds. They gain your trust by portraying fake huge profits to convince you to put more funds, till when you invest a substantial sum, they intentionally freeze your account and demand for more payments to have your profits released. I had invested with a bogus company that ripped me off $198000 worth of Crypto, this was close to everything I Had in my savings. special thanks to Captain WebGenesis, whose recovery company put in a lot of effort and made sure I had my money back If you ever find yourself in a similar scenario, you can reach out to Captain WebGenesis through;
Email Add; (Captainwebgenesis@hackermail.com)
Whatsapp; +1(205) 3361020.
GENUINE CRYPTO RECOVERY AGENT/WIZARD LARRY RECOVERY
Sincerely, I would like to express my gratitude and respect to this outstanding cryptocurrency recovery specialist. I am among the fortunate people on the internet who were duped but were able to retrieve my assets from a stolen cryptocurrency investment thanks to technology. Few people are fortunate enough to retrieve all they have lost to fraudsters, but thanks to support@wizarlarryrecovery.com, I can be sure that I won't fall prey to bitcoin Ponzi fraud for the rest of my life. I'm incredibly grateful for everything, and if you ever become a victim of an internet scam, I strongly advise you to get in touch with them at the contact details provided above.
WhatsApp: +1(480)_44_86_092
Visit Website :www.wizardlarryrecovery.com
Crypto Scam Recovery Experts Captain WebGenesis.
"I had suffered a significant loss in the cryptocurrency market a few months ago and was struggling to recover." I had invested $229,500 in cryptocurrency with a company that I subsequently discovered online, which I ended up learning it's a standard Crypto scam company. CAPTAIN WEBGENESIS went above and beyond to assist me in recovering my losses. Their services are superb, and the crew is fantastic, with excellent communication and results. CAPTAIN WEBGENESIS is highly recommended; look no further. Thank you for all of your help and guidance, CAPTAIN WEBGENESIS."
Mail Add; { Captainwebgenesis(@)hackermail.com }
Learn More; Www.captainwebgenesis.com
Crypto Scam Recovery Experts Captain WebGenesis.
"I had suffered a significant loss in the cryptocurrency market a few months ago and was struggling to recover." I had invested $229,500 in cryptocurrency with a company that I subsequently discovered online, which I ended up learning it's a standard Crypto scam company. CAPTAIN WEBGENESIS went above and beyond to assist me in recovering my losses. Their services are superb, and the crew is fantastic, with excellent communication and results. CAPTAIN WEBGENESIS is highly recommended; look no further. Thank you for all of your help and guidance, CAPTAIN WEBGENESIS."
Mail Add; { Captainwebgenesis(@)hackermail.com }
Learn More; Www.captainwebgenesis.com
Crypto Scam Recovery Experts Captain WebGenesis.
"I had suffered a significant loss in the cryptocurrency market a few months ago and was struggling to recover." I had invested $229,500 in cryptocurrency with a company that I subsequently discovered online, which I ended up learning it's a standard Crypto scam company. CAPTAIN WEBGENESIS went above and beyond to assist me in recovering my losses. Their services are superb, and the crew is fantastic, with excellent communication and results. CAPTAIN WEBGENESIS is highly recommended; look no further. Thank you for all of your help and guidance, CAPTAIN WEBGENESIS."
Mail Add; { Captainwebgenesis(@)hackermail.com }
Learn More; Www.captainwebgenesis.com
Crypto Scam Recovery Experts Captain WebGenesis.
"I had suffered a significant loss in the cryptocurrency market a few months ago and was struggling to recover." I had invested $229,500 in cryptocurrency with a company that I subsequently discovered online, which I ended up learning it's a standard Crypto scam company. CAPTAIN WEBGENESIS went above and beyond to assist me in recovering my losses. Their services are superb, and the crew is fantastic, with excellent communication and results. CAPTAIN WEBGENESIS is highly recommended; look no further. Thank you for all of your help and guidance, CAPTAIN WEBGENESIS."
Mail Add; { Captainwebgenesis(@)hackermail.com }
Learn More; Www.captainwebgenesis.com
HOW I RECOVER MY LOST BTC THROUGH OMEGA CRYPTO RECOVERY SPECIALIST
I'm from Lida, Belarus and my name is Alena Darja. Investing in cryptocurrency can be a lucrative opportunity, but it comes with risks. Unfortunately, I learned this lesson the hard way when I lost my initial investment of $136,000 to a fake online investment platform but thanks to Omega Recovery Specialist who was able to recover 90 percent of my money. I'm so grateful and I'm putting this here for everyone to see.
+1 (251), 2 16. 64 6 6
Mail; omegaCryptos@consultant .co m
Web; www.omegacryptos.com
"Story of a Poem" by Matthew Zapruder: A Rumination sounds like a captivating exploration into the world of poetry and its intricate layers. As someone deeply entrenched in the love for football and the strategic world of betting, I'm always intrigued by diverse narratives and interpretations.
Speaking of delving into different realms, while I'm engrossed in dissecting the beauty of poetry, I also enjoy diving into the world of online football betting. Have any of you explored เว็บบอลออนไลน์ เว็บไหนดี (good online football betting websites)? Just like analyzing poetry, finding the right betting platform requires understanding nuances and finding the perfect match for your strategies.
BITCOIN RECOVERY IS VERY MUCH REAL, AM A LIVING TESTIMONY!
I was actually fooled and scammed over ( $753,000 ) by someone I trusted with my funds through a transaction we did and I feel so disappointed and hurt knowing that someone can steal from you without remorse after trusting them, so I started searching for help legally to recover my stolen funds and came across a lot of Testimonials about DARK WEB ONLINE HACKERS, Reovery Expert who helps in recovery lost funds, which I can tell has helped so many people who had contacted them regarding such issues and without a questionable doubt their funds was returned back to their wallet in a very short space of time, it took the expert 21 hours to help me recover my funds and the best part of it all was that the scammers was actually located and arrested by local authorities in his region which was very relieving. Hope this helps as many people who have lost their hard earn money to scammers out of trust, you can reach him through the link below for help to recover your scammed funds and thank me later.
Email Address: dwchzone@gmail.com
Or WhatsApp: +1 (803) 392-1735
Visit https://darkwebonlinehackers.com