Poets Interview - Sean M Whelan
What drives you to write/create?
Bunnies, broken hearts, line drawings, country music, trees at dusk, fifties dresses, skeletons, cowboy boots, rock and or roll, her handwriting, pushing back the waves of sadness, the memory of my father and a burning hole in my heart.
How would you describe your writing style?
I wouldn’t. Not unless I have to. I’ve never enjoyed trying to describe myself very much, perhaps because I don’t really have much of a plan to what I do. It comes mostly from a place of yearning, instinct and desperation.
I wouldn’t. Not unless I have to. I’ve never enjoyed trying to describe myself very much, perhaps because I don’t really have much of a plan to what I do. It comes mostly from a place of yearning, instinct and desperation.
Who or what has influenced your writing?
I’ve always loved melancholic works, in music, film or writing. There were two major schools of writing that influenced my work, that of the Dirty Realists and the Magical Realists. I guess I’ve been trying to pitch myself somewhere in between. Like ‘Dirty Magic’!
My two major writing buddies, alicia sometimes and Emilie Zoey Baker are always a big influence on my work too.
What good is poetry for the community/the world/trains/yourself?
Poetry is the pause button of life that gives us a chance to enjoy those fleeting moments of wonder just that little while longer. And trains just happen to be one of those perfect venues for such tiny sacred acts.
When/How often do you write?
Not as often as I feel I should. I don’t subscribe to the ‘writing when you feel inspired’ method. You just don’t get enough done if you go by that. You really have to treat it as a kind of job. And just try to be disciplined and get your bum down in front of a writing machine as often as possible.
Do you have a favourite poem of your own?
That changes all the time. At the moment though it’s a poem I was commissioned to write by the good folk at Going Down Swinging. It’s called ‘Slow and Pink and Gone.’ And it was a bit of a departure for me as far as the subject is concerned. I often write love poems, but this was a poem about the ultimate act of change; death. I wanted to write about death in a way that wasn’t morbid. Death after all, is one of the most natural things that can happen to us, but in the West it’s treated as an aberration. It all started for me with an image of a lion with the face of Harvey Keitel. It’s a long, languid dreamy poem that I really enjoy performing.
Can we see your work anywhere else soon or at the moment?
I have some very big shows coming up. Firstly at the Melbourne Writers Festival I’m performing in a show called Liner Notes. These have been a series of shows that are spoken word tributes to classic iconic albums. This one coming up will be covering Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ album. Ironically the album was chosen before he died. A different writer is chosen for each track, I’ve been allocated ‘Wanna Be Startin’ Something.’ We also have a band playing unique covers on the night. It should be a very special evening. That’s on the 27th August at The Toff in Town.
The next really big show after that will be part of the Melbourne International Arts Festival and will be held at the Planetarium. It’s called Elemental and will be a series of poems based on the origins of the universe. Emilie Zoey Baker, Alicia Sometimes and Paul Mitchell (all Moving Galleries poets!) are also involved as well as a bunch of very talented film makers and sound artists. We have three shows in Oct on the 15th, 18th and the 22nd. Check out http://www.elementalplanetarium.com for more details.
What advice would you have for budding or withered poets?
Treat it as a craft. Not just some form of venting or therapy. Give your potential audience some respect by not just offering your diary and calling it poetry. Dig deep but then polish the diamonds that you find down below.
