Jacqueline Suskin, Poet, Educator, Author of The Verse for Now
Welcome back listeners and today we welcome Jacqueline Suskin for today’s conversation centered on her latest book, The Verse for Now. Its theme is embracing our planetary identity while acknowledging our intimate, vulnerable human side amid the climate crisis.
Book order page: https://www.flowerflowerpress.press/shop/the-verse-for-now
Here is an outline of the conversation:
Evolution of Creative Cycles:
"Jacqueline, welcome back to the show! In our January conversation about A Year in Practice, you emphasized the cyclical nature of creativity and the reflective power of winter. With The Verse for Now, you delve into the idea of accepting ourselves as both vast and intimate—planetary yet personal. Can you share what inspired this shift and how your approach to creativity has evolved since then?"
Nature as a Muse:
"Your latest work invites us to find guidance in moments of contemplation: kneeling by a rushing creek, walking city streets, or sitting under an old growth redwood. Could you describe a personal moment from your creative journey when nature transformed into a profound source of poetic inspiration?"
Spontaneity vs. Craft:
"Given your impressive portfolio of over forty thousand improvisational poems through Poem Store, how do you balance the spontaneity of in-the-moment creation with the intentional craft required for a cohesive work like The Verse for Now? What role does each play in your creative process?"
Teaching & Community Impact:
"As a teaching artist with InsideOut Literary Arts and the mind behind the Poem Forest curriculum, how does engaging with communities and young creators influence your own writing? In what ways do these experiences inform the themes of interconnection and transformation in your latest book?"
Message for Challenging Times:
"In a world marked by environmental challenges and rapid change, The Verse for Now speaks to finding solace and agency through poetry. What message or practical guidance would you like to share with our listeners who are seeking to nurture their creativity and connection to the earth during tumultuous times?"
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Jacqueline Suskin is a poet and educator who has composed over forty thousand improvisational poems with her ongoing writing project, Poem Store. Suskin is the author of nine books, including The Edge of The Continent Volume 1-3, Help in the Dark Season, Every Day is a Poem, A Year in Practice, and The Verse for Now, with work featured in various publications including the New York Times, the Atlantic, and the Los Angeles Times. An ecstatic earth-worshiper, she lives in Detroit where she works as a teaching artist with InsideOut Literary Arts, bringing nature poetry into classrooms with her Poem Forest curriculum.