Ask the Author: Robert J. Tiess
Answered Questions (6)
Robert J. Tiess
Like most people, I've been humbled a number of times in my life, in various degrees and ways and at various stages of my existence.
As I matured, I understood humility to be essential to living a better life, and that humility develops under many conditions and in many scenarios which often have their origins in pride.
My poetry collection, The Humbling and Other Poems, examines multiple contexts, causes, and settings in which humility can be experienced or cultivated, directly or indirectly.
My book is organized as a seven-part journey, but the poems can be read independently and in any order. As always, I prefer to let the reader decide what's best.
While that journey draws inspiration from my own experiences, I did not simply want my life to become any sort of blueprint for this book: I needed the book to reflect the larger, more empathetic thinking I've been trying to cultivate in myself for decades now.
And so, these are not simply "poems about me" -- I'm not a narcissistic or confessional poet or someone who prefers to occupy my own poems. In fact, I prefer my poems to develop their own ideas and voices so they can, in their own ways, reflect the reality of life that's larger than me.
This is why so many of my poems take on various forms. And, I find that diversity to be essential to this collection: these poems aspire to contemplate the larger world of people, places, ideas, and things.
As I matured, I understood humility to be essential to living a better life, and that humility develops under many conditions and in many scenarios which often have their origins in pride.
My poetry collection, The Humbling and Other Poems, examines multiple contexts, causes, and settings in which humility can be experienced or cultivated, directly or indirectly.
My book is organized as a seven-part journey, but the poems can be read independently and in any order. As always, I prefer to let the reader decide what's best.
While that journey draws inspiration from my own experiences, I did not simply want my life to become any sort of blueprint for this book: I needed the book to reflect the larger, more empathetic thinking I've been trying to cultivate in myself for decades now.
And so, these are not simply "poems about me" -- I'm not a narcissistic or confessional poet or someone who prefers to occupy my own poems. In fact, I prefer my poems to develop their own ideas and voices so they can, in their own ways, reflect the reality of life that's larger than me.
This is why so many of my poems take on various forms. And, I find that diversity to be essential to this collection: these poems aspire to contemplate the larger world of people, places, ideas, and things.
Robert J. Tiess
Inspiration is everywhere, I find, if you allow yourself to open your thoughts to receive it.
For me, it mostly involves clearing my mind and trying to become more selfless (less self-centered in my thoughts) long enough so I might begin to allow myself to see, to breathe, to feel, and to be inspired by life.
Maintaining an active awareness of the world along with a willingness to empathize with others also enables me to observe and comprehend things with more clarity and in larger contexts.
Moving past myself -- getting out of my own way -- there is, quite literally, the rest of the universe to witness and consider! Infinite and ubiquitous inspiration!
For me, it mostly involves clearing my mind and trying to become more selfless (less self-centered in my thoughts) long enough so I might begin to allow myself to see, to breathe, to feel, and to be inspired by life.
Maintaining an active awareness of the world along with a willingness to empathize with others also enables me to observe and comprehend things with more clarity and in larger contexts.
Moving past myself -- getting out of my own way -- there is, quite literally, the rest of the universe to witness and consider! Infinite and ubiquitous inspiration!
Robert J. Tiess
Right now, I'm working on two new books: my next poetry collection, and something on my literary metatheory (Interpreture).
In my first poetry collection, The Humbling and Other poems, I include an essay on what I call the Vicarium, one of the key concepts from Interpreture.
I began working on my literary theory since the 1980s, so I've had a lot of time to think about it!
Now I'm trying to set it all down in a way readers without any background in literary theory can potentially understand and appreciate.
As I indicated in my essay on accessibility (included in The Humbling and Other Poems), I want to be understood.
That thought helps to keep me focused, and I need that because Interpreture goes well beyond literature.
In my first poetry collection, The Humbling and Other poems, I include an essay on what I call the Vicarium, one of the key concepts from Interpreture.
I began working on my literary theory since the 1980s, so I've had a lot of time to think about it!
Now I'm trying to set it all down in a way readers without any background in literary theory can potentially understand and appreciate.
As I indicated in my essay on accessibility (included in The Humbling and Other Poems), I want to be understood.
That thought helps to keep me focused, and I need that because Interpreture goes well beyond literature.
Robert J. Tiess
Tolkien's Middle-earth might be nice. I'd definitely visit some Hobbits in the Shire and maybe try to track down Gandalf and have a friendly chat with him. I'm sure he has many stories we've yet to hear.
Robert J. Tiess
Persist.
Let nothing diminish your voice.
Let no one deter you from expressing your ideas.
You matter and deserve to be heard.
When you finally have a chance to be heard, make every syllable count.
Until then, keep developing your expressive abilities and your life experiences. There is always much to learn and a better or more creative way to say something.
Let nothing diminish your voice.
Let no one deter you from expressing your ideas.
You matter and deserve to be heard.
When you finally have a chance to be heard, make every syllable count.
Until then, keep developing your expressive abilities and your life experiences. There is always much to learn and a better or more creative way to say something.
Robert J. Tiess
Being read.
I write to be read. As a poet, I often hope readers will consider reading my works aloud, as I usually invest a lot of energy and effort in the musicality of a poem, even those that appear to be free verse.
Things like assonance, consonance, alliteration, occasional rhymes, staccato vs. legato passages are all things I work on, and some of that thinking comes from my experiences as a musician (piano/keyboard, acoustic/electric/bass guitar). (I also post occasionally on SoundCloud.)
I write to be read. As a poet, I often hope readers will consider reading my works aloud, as I usually invest a lot of energy and effort in the musicality of a poem, even those that appear to be free verse.
Things like assonance, consonance, alliteration, occasional rhymes, staccato vs. legato passages are all things I work on, and some of that thinking comes from my experiences as a musician (piano/keyboard, acoustic/electric/bass guitar). (I also post occasionally on SoundCloud.)
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