Emily Peiffer hears voices. Fortunately, the voices she hears aren't the unhealthy kind, but are instead the kind of voices that inspire brilliant poetry. Peiffer, who is a recent graduate from Aquinas College has been recognized numerous times for her outstanding poetry, and hopes to continue to write even while holding down a day job to pay the bills. She admits to having a sort of "sixth sense" about poetry, nudging her to write poems about unusual objects or stories, which sometimes turn out to be award-winning.
The most recent poem of Peiffer's to gain recognition was "Telephone Pole," which was published in the 2009 Aquinas College Sampler, a conglomerate of poems, short stories, and works of art by students. All the entries for the Sampler are reviewed by students and faculty before a final decision is made about what to include in the booklet. In addition, all the poems published in the Sampler are entered into Academy of American Poets Contest for Colleges and Universities. Peiffer's poem won first place. The young poet admits to going through many drafts in her writing process before a poem as well-crafted as "Telephone Pole" emerges. But it's hard not to wonder if, in the end, the secret to her many successes is as simple as that little voice in the back of her head whispering, "There's a poem there."
Last Spring you won the Academy of American Poets Contest for Colleges and Universities for your poem, “Telephone Pole.” The winning poem along with many others appeared in the 2009 edition of the Aquinas College Sampler. Can you tell me what gave you the idea for that poem, and what inspires you, in general, to write poetry?
The idea for the poem “Telephone Pole” came about when I was walking through Eastown in Grand Rapids. Every time I walked by a telephone pole, a voice in the back of my head kept whispering, “There’s a poem there somewhere.” Some of the telephone poles I saw were just completely covered in rusty staples, a mixture of old and new signs, and a colorful variety of chewing gum. The wood was chipping away from some of them so badly that you could see the metal pole at the center. So these telephone poles are obviously very old. I suppose you could say that they’ve seen a lot. And somewhere in that mind process, I felt like there was a lot of poetic potential. I shifted the idea through my mind for quite some time before I finally decided to sit down and attempt to create a poem about it. After some drastic polishing, the poem became what can now be seen in Sampler XXI.
Speaking in more general terms, many things inspire me to write poetry. As already mentioned, I will often see something that causes a little voice to click in the back of my mind. I actually keep a page in my writing journal with the caption “There’s something poetic in…” and then I keep a list of images and concepts that I like. Whenever I feel like writing but I’m not sure what to write, I can develop those ideas. Of course there are many ways to approach poetry, and I try to keep some variety in any writing I do.
What made you think to compare the telephone pole to Atlas?
In the original draft of this poem (which was quite different from the final one), the first line was, “It stands alone.” Similar to the final draft, I then describe the way the telephone pole is stuck in cement, cursed to constantly lift black wires. I suppose that image became a transition to the similar image of Atlas solely lifting the world on his shoulders. In later drafts I decided to take this image and make it more central to the poem.
The poem seems to hint at a deeper concern for the world than just the neglect of telephone poles. What were you feeling when you came up with the melancholy ending? What does the poem mean to you?
Well, my original ending line was almost a complete echo of the original opening line. It definitely lacked “oomph.” It didn’t really leave the reader with anything to hold on to. When I write poetry, I like to try to give the reader a good final thought, whether it is a rich image or an idea that leads to reflection. The current ending seems a little melancholy, yes, but I think it is necessary in order to get the point across. If it ended on a happier note, it might not lead the reader to ponder the more general concept of what we do to our surroundings.
How did it feel to be recognized for your poetry?
I think the best words to use here are warm and fuzzy. Once you get over the potential fear of sharing your work, it’s a great feeling to be recognized for something you love to spend your time doing.
When did you begin writing poetry? Is it something you’ve always been interested in pursuing? Where do you see it taking you in the future?
I don’t think I really started writing creatively on my own until after I was forced to write poetry in the sixth grade. I just hadn’t considered writing poetry (or much of anything) before that point. It’s like the passion was there, but it hadn’t clicked for me yet. But after writing my first poems and stories, I became obsessed with it. I not only wrote very frequently, but wanted to learn everything there was to know about writing. That love for writing and learning about writing has never really gone away.
I think any writer would be perfectly content if they could be as successful as J. K. Rowling and make writing a full time job. Unfortunately it isn’t that easy. I think that poets have it particularly difficult because Americans generally aren’t voracious poetry readers. Ideally I would like to write for the rest of my life, but I know I have to get a day job. Currently I’m looking toward a career in teaching writing or literature, but if it veers toward editing at a small press, I think I would be equally happy.
What is your favorite poem that you have written thus far?
That’s a tough question since I have so many. At present, my favorite is one I’m currently working on. I read Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl this summer and I found the book very inspiring. At one point he describes an experience that he had with a woman dying of typhoid fever. Within a single paragraph he describes their exchange, which in essence is so beautiful that even he expressed, “to me it seems like a poem.” Remember that poetry detector voice I was talking about? It was yelling at me by the end. Writing the poem has not been an easy task however, as I want to try to do the anecdote justice. It took close to two months just to get a first draft.
Is there one or two subjects that you enjoy writing about more than others?
I find that a lot of the things I write tend to focus on the idea of the human spirit or the human experience. I enjoy discovering connections between the natural world (or even everyday things that we’ve created - like telephone poles as you may have noticed) and that human spirit or experience. I don’t always necessarily try to write about these topics, but they often slip into my writing.
What poets do you look up to? What are some of your favorite poems?
I look up to countless poets. Ironically, many of my favorite poets write in styles that are different from mine. Maybe that’s why I like them. I never seem to get tired of reading Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” and “Kubla Khan.” I love Walt Whitman’s “Leaves of Grass” and “Song of Myself.” I adore T. S. Eliot’s “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” and “The Waste Land.” I get goosebumps when I read Allen Ginsberg’s “Howl.”
There are many contemporary poems that I enjoy, though I must admit that I’d have to search to find the names of the poets who wrote them. I do know that Linda Nemec Foster was one of the first contemporary poets that I found myself reading. I also really enjoy the work of Billy Collins, Li-Young Lee, Marge Piercy, and the list goes on and on…
Honestly, many of my favorite poets are my peers, my classmates from Aquinas College. I think it is not only because they are excellent writers, but also because I found myself immersed in reading their work throughout the years. We’re all growing as writers together.
Are you planning to continue writing poetry and entering contests?
Of course! I think that a lot of writers write because they can’t not write. I would include myself in this category. I certainly feel compelled to write. Contests are a fun perk and a good way to get your work out there.
Works by Emily Peiffer
| The First Storm | Poem |
| Telephone Pole | Poem |