Bob Hicok

Bob Hicok’s most recent collection is Words for Empty and Words for Full (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2010). This Clumsy Living (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2007), was awarded the 2008 Bobbitt Prize from the Library of Congress. His other books are Insomnia Diary (Pitt, 2004), Animal Soul (Invisible Cities Press, 2001),a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, Plus Shipping (BOA, 1998), and The Legend of Light (University of Wisconsin, 1995), which received the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry and was named a 1997 ALA Booklist Notable Book of the Year. A recipient of five Pushcart Prizes, a Guggenheim and two NEA Fellowships, his poetry has been selected for inclusion in six volumes of Best American Poetry.

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Seven Poems

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Introduction & Interview by Meg Pokrass

My husband and I met Bob Hicok at a reading here in San Francisco at Bookshop West Portal. After the reading, a member of the audience asked Bob Hicok, “What kind of audience reaction makes a writer comfortable?” Bob said, “You guys were way too quiet.” And it was true. We were quiet. Quiet little San Franciscans who drink too many acai berry blends and who have lost the ability to react in public. My chilly city. Yes. The truth was we loved Bob Hicok’s reading. It was electric. Most of us were murmuring like quiet, contented pigeons. Cooing (inaudibly). The ‘vibe’ in the audience was great. Still, how could Bob Hicok have known? Later, when Bob was signing my copy of Words for Empty and Words for Full, I said, “We were too quiet. What should we have done?”  He said, “Oh… laughed, moaned, shuffled, farted.” I thanked him for the instruction. Ever since, when we’re at readings, I am laughing, moaning, and shuffling like crazy.  MP

Do you mentor? Have you had mentors?

I Mentos but not mentor. Nor have I been mentored, or meteored, though I minored in mitering in trade school.

When you are feeling blocked, what do you do to fight it if you do? Tricks to getting unstuck…

Roughage is good for this. Also I use MiraLAX every day. Two answers, two product placements: I should be a movie. Writing is the way around writer’s block. I think what gets to people is fretting about the results, trying to
steer what doesn’t yet exist into waters of greatness.

Do you sit down to write with any clue about what you are going to write?

Almost never. Only that words will be involved.

Can you offer one or more of your own writing exercises?

Yes. Write a poem. There’s another one I like: write another poem. I’ve never had writing exercises. Writing is exercise.

Do you listen to anything (music) when you write? For years and years now, Erik Satie.

How can we writers remain creative when so worried about money? How can we not? Whatever troubles us, writing gives us an activity that can push these concerns away. Something to get lost in.

Do you read your work aloud as part of your own editing process?

I read my work silently aloud. Did you know the tongue moves when we read in quiet, as if we’re reading out loud? Silly tongue.

Who are human beings that you admire?

Some people you wouldn’t know or know of. People who aren’t cracking when they probably should, given all the trouble, largely economic, that they’re having.Call them X and Y.

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Bob Hicok answering questions from his audience