Notes of an Apprentice: Non-Existent Facts—Poetry Reading and Discussion

Notes of an Apprentice: Non-Existent Facts—Poetry Reading and Discussion

This paper documents, in transcript form—with some added commentary, references and reflections—a discussion, poetry reading and question-answer period, moderated by Dan Disney, which took place at the Modern British and American Poetry Society conference held at Yonsei University on October 6, 2018. It unfolds in three sections: in Part I, after introductory remarks by Disney, I discuss my background and development as a poet through apprenticeships with several poetry teachers, most notably Kenneth Koch. The discussion of Koch focuses on his attempts to define poetry, his unique pedagogical methods, orientation and aesthetic sensibility as a member of the New York School, and what it means to be affiliated as an apprentice. Reflections on learning from other mentors and teachers touch upon the following: the distinction between traditional, institutionally defined student-teacher learning and the care, depth and intimacy of master-apprentice dynamics; the importance and various possibilities of appreciating poetry; embracing (and even seeking out) fortuitous mistakes during the composition process; the connections between oral tradition (including personal dialects, personal mythologies and translation) and craft in creative writing; and narrative and stylistic framing devices. Part II consists of the poetry reading—a series of excerpts of prose-poem/aphorisms from Non-Existent Facts (2018), recited in conjunction with visual accompaniment in the form of original collages. Part III includes discussion with Dan Disney, as well as a question-answer period with members of the audience.