On the Trail of Something Good
An Interview with Z.G. Tomaszewski
On November 14, 2016, Z.G. Tomaszewski came to Mount Pleasant as part of the Wellspring Literary Series. Recently, Amanda Larson had the opportunity to discuss Tomaszewski’s work with him via email. Z.G. has authored several books of poems, including his collection, All Things Dusk, winner of the International Poetry Prize of 2014 and his recent chapbook Mineral Whisper.
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Amanda: What inspires you to write?
Z.G.: Suffering. Ecstasy. The ordinary. Birds and rivers. It’s the inconsistent moment which I do not necessarily look for, but am taken by, and the recurrence of that moment. Li-Young Lee has stated: "A lot of times there is a slippage in the language. I'm excited when that happens." It's what splits time and opens me up to sit and write. I feel that language continues to exceed me, that I'm just trying to keep up. I've thought recently that I'm at a place in my life and in my writing where the old language I figured I knew I no longer do, which came through by experimenting and tempting new language, by working with complex images and metaphors and trying to sustain them. Lately I've been compelled to approach poems as if painting, attempting new techniques such as cross-hatching, but still truing in to my voice. What's surfaced are two opposing and synergetic temperaments in my being. The language of which is still becoming clear.
Amanda: What recurring themes and images do you notice in your work, and how do you feel these work within the poems?
Z.G.: For a while now I've been rather contemplative about windows and how they frame everything so well, what passes in and what passes through, the immediate and the beyond, two ways of seeing at once. I am invested in perspective and thin places. Stanley Kunitz said that there are three images that recur in every artist's work throughout their lifetime. I think I discovered one of mine and it feels satisfying to be on the trail, but I like that there's far more room for unknowing. I've realized I'm mostly interested in bringing forth a greater sensitivity to the plant and animal kingdoms by poetry, and so serving our human condition to strengthen emotional awareness of our environments.
Amanda: Could you talk a little about your experiences with publishing your work, and the process that that entailed?
Z.G.: Publishing, eh? Well, I'm honestly unsure how to approach that question—I could talk about the many poems I've had published and where, by whom, and my books All Things Dusk and Mineral Whisper, but I think there is always something deeper to get at, which is being reminded what the role of publishing really is, and that's to have your work, your voice, validated, heard, brought under new light. But this can happen and does happen in so many other ways. Do not be discouraged if you are not published. Keep on keeping on. Stay on the path and keep to the watchtower. Publishing is a tradition, a conversation we want to enter, be part of. Trust what you have to say, be willing to learn how to say it differently, more clear, and with confidence.
Amanda: What advice would you give to people who are just starting writing and submitting their work?
Z.G.: Here's a story: Every day Fox visited the same rabbit hole. Nothing ever came of it. Then one day Fox decided to move along, to try out looking for other small dens. A lot of time and many miles passed without any promising leads. Suddenly, when Fox least expected it, and just about to give up, a rabbit, without scent, jumped across his path. Fox was overjoyed. Fox was stunned. In Fox's awe however he lost his chance at catching this rabbit. But, Fox was restored and carried on, believing, after all, he was finally on the trail of something good.
Z.G.: Suffering. Ecstasy. The ordinary. Birds and rivers. It’s the inconsistent moment which I do not necessarily look for, but am taken by, and the recurrence of that moment. Li-Young Lee has stated: "A lot of times there is a slippage in the language. I'm excited when that happens." It's what splits time and opens me up to sit and write. I feel that language continues to exceed me, that I'm just trying to keep up. I've thought recently that I'm at a place in my life and in my writing where the old language I figured I knew I no longer do, which came through by experimenting and tempting new language, by working with complex images and metaphors and trying to sustain them. Lately I've been compelled to approach poems as if painting, attempting new techniques such as cross-hatching, but still truing in to my voice. What's surfaced are two opposing and synergetic temperaments in my being. The language of which is still becoming clear.
Amanda: What recurring themes and images do you notice in your work, and how do you feel these work within the poems?
Z.G.: For a while now I've been rather contemplative about windows and how they frame everything so well, what passes in and what passes through, the immediate and the beyond, two ways of seeing at once. I am invested in perspective and thin places. Stanley Kunitz said that there are three images that recur in every artist's work throughout their lifetime. I think I discovered one of mine and it feels satisfying to be on the trail, but I like that there's far more room for unknowing. I've realized I'm mostly interested in bringing forth a greater sensitivity to the plant and animal kingdoms by poetry, and so serving our human condition to strengthen emotional awareness of our environments.
Amanda: Could you talk a little about your experiences with publishing your work, and the process that that entailed?
Z.G.: Publishing, eh? Well, I'm honestly unsure how to approach that question—I could talk about the many poems I've had published and where, by whom, and my books All Things Dusk and Mineral Whisper, but I think there is always something deeper to get at, which is being reminded what the role of publishing really is, and that's to have your work, your voice, validated, heard, brought under new light. But this can happen and does happen in so many other ways. Do not be discouraged if you are not published. Keep on keeping on. Stay on the path and keep to the watchtower. Publishing is a tradition, a conversation we want to enter, be part of. Trust what you have to say, be willing to learn how to say it differently, more clear, and with confidence.
Amanda: What advice would you give to people who are just starting writing and submitting their work?
Z.G.: Here's a story: Every day Fox visited the same rabbit hole. Nothing ever came of it. Then one day Fox decided to move along, to try out looking for other small dens. A lot of time and many miles passed without any promising leads. Suddenly, when Fox least expected it, and just about to give up, a rabbit, without scent, jumped across his path. Fox was overjoyed. Fox was stunned. In Fox's awe however he lost his chance at catching this rabbit. But, Fox was restored and carried on, believing, after all, he was finally on the trail of something good.