Can you go through the step-by-step process of writing this poem from the moment the idea was first conceived in your brain until final form?
I’ve just completed a creative writing course on-line focussing on poetry, moreover exploring the process of writing. The tools. One of the exercises was ‘found’ poetry – taking two elements and making a poem from. I took my old bass and looked out on the street at the road. From here the idea grew. The road and the bass explain a large portion of my life – touring with bands and the journey this instrument took me on. I created three or four drafts, reading each one aloud. I’m not pushed on rhyme, but more rhythm. (BELOW: Johannes et Jacobus “Le Roi du Soleil” Precision Style Bass (JJ004) from Flickr album “200907 My Guitars” by John Clift. CCBSA)
Where were you when you started to actually write the poem? And please describe the place in great detail.
I write first thing in the morning. I have a small corner of sofa that I struggle to keep ownership with my cat, Suki. From this seat, I have a view of the garden and sky. I’m lucky where I live, no high-rises or tall buildings. On the sofa we have a woven blanket bought from a Blackfoot reservation in Canada. It is deep red with green and white chevrons and diamonds. I write from a laptop on my lap and a cup of coffee perched precariously on the arm of the sofa (BELOW: Back road in Ireland)
What month and year did you start writing this poem?
I started this poem at the start of June – 3rd or 4th. I’m only just happy with it now. (BELOW: Robert Craven in May of 2018)
How many drafts of this poem did you write before going to the final? (And can you share a photograph of your rough drafts with pen markings on it?)
I wrote out four drafts long hand – typed up two and this is the final – six in total.
Were there any lines in any of your rough drafts of this poem that were not in the final version? And can you share them with us?
One line didn’t make the cut – “waiting for your hatred” – it was going to be the very last line but shapes the final image poorly. I was angry growing up in Dublin in the 1980’s. The only escape was music – I played blues, jazz and punk – all musical forms expressing anger and pain. I didn’t want the bass to be a weapon – some musicians think that way. My son, Liam is interested in music and maybe one day he might want to just jam or take it further, he can take the bass – it’s his now. (BELOW: Robert Craven in August of 2015)
What do you want readers of this poem to take from this poem?
I’d like the readers to enjoy it – it was a wonderful time in my life, but all good things come to an end. I hope it reads like an old photograph pulled from a yearbook.
Which part of the poem was the most emotional of you to write and why?
Along the highways of Ireland, Wales and England.
snug in her case, Vanessa travelled by car, boat and plane to Holland
and thrummed and boomed
like thunder in its clubs and bars.
As a musician, the doors began to open, and I got to travel out of Ireland playing it. I began to see hope during a bad economic downturn – & maybe the bands I played in brought a little relief. It’s a real right-of-passage. (BELOW: Robert Craven in June 30, 2017.)
Has this poem been published before? And if so where? Yes, on a free-to-read-site ABCTales.com
Anything you would like to add?
Poetry is one thing I find very hard to do – it really is a bearing of the soul for all to see. Anyone who does this for a living has my heart-felt respect
I Have A Bass Guitar Called Vanessa
I have a bass guitar,
It’s a Jazz-copy that I call Vanessa;
Vanessa is my road bass,
and travelled around with me in a battered
old flight case.
Along the highways of Ireland, Wales and England.
snug in her case, Vanessa travelled by car, boat and plane to Holland
and thrummed and boomed
like thunder in its clubs and bars.
The pick-ups are old, The frets worn smooth
and the rose-wood neck is scarred by
the fingered steel-wound strings.
The body’s chipped and grooved from nightly use for a decade and two.
Propped and stood and hurled onto stages of wood and stone and crate-mounted planks.
The finish has lost its lustre, but not her rich, lush tone.
Not her soul of mother-of-pearl.
Vanessa lies in the shadows of the wardrobe, the shoulder strap twisted up like a serpent,
waiting for your fourteenth birthday.
Waiting for the next generation of anger…
Robert Craven was born in Manchester and now lives in Dublin, Hireland. He is the author of Get Lenin, Sinnman, A Finger of Night, and Hollow Point. He is also the author of the novella The Steampunk Novella-The Mandarin Cipher and two horror anthologys A Communion of Blood and Vodou.
001 Backstory of the Poem
“12 – 2014” from the poetry collection BEFORE THE DROUGHT by Margo Berdeshevsky published by Glass Lyre Press on September 15, 2017
https://christalcooper.com/001-backstory-of-the-poem-12-2014-from-the-poetry-collection-before-the-drought-by-margo-berdeshevsky-published-by-glass-lyre-press-on-september-15-2017/
#002 Backstory of the Poem
“82 Miles from the Beach, We Order The Lobster At Clear Lake Café”
by Alexis Rhone Fancher
https://christalcooper.com/002-backstory-of-the-poem-82-miles-from-the-beach-we-order-the-lobster-at-clear-lake-cafe-by-alexis-rhone-fancher/
#003 Backstory of the Poem
“Orange”
by Barbara Crooker
https://christalcooper.com/003-backstory-of-the-poem-orange-by-barbara-crooker/
#004 Backstory of the Poem
“Modern Matsushima”
by Sonia Saikaley
https://christalcooper.com/004-backstory-of-the-poem-modern-matsushima-by-sonia-saikaley/
#005 Backstory of the Poem
“Side Yard”
By Ellen Foos
http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2018/01/5-backstory-of-poem-sidewalk-by-ellen.html
#006 Backstory of the Poem
“The Ringmaster”
By Susan Sundwall
https://christalcooper.com/006-backstory-of-the-poem-the-ringmaster/
#007 Backstory of the Poem
“That Night”
by Leslea Newman
https://christalcooper.com/007-backstory-of-the-poem-that-night-by-leslea-newman/
#008 Backstory of the Poem
“June Fairchild Isn’t Dead”
by Alexis Rhone Fancher
https://christalcooper.com/008-backstory-of-the-poem-june-fairchild-isnt-dead-by-alexis-rhone-fancher/
#009 Backstory of the Poem
“The Gift of the Year with Granny”
By Charles Clifford Brooks III
https://christalcooper.com/009-backstory-of-the-poem-the-gift-of-the-year-with-granny-by-charles-clifford-brooks-iii/
#010 Backstory of the Poem
“The Natural Reflection of Your Palms”
by Scott Thomas Outlar
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2018/03/chris-ricecooper-caccoopaol.html
#011 Backstory of the Poem
“After Diane Beatty’s Photograph “History Abandoned”
by Anya Francesca Jenkins
https://christalcooper.com/011-backstory-of-the-poem-after-diane-beattys-photograph-history-abandoned-by-arya-francis-jenkins/
#012 Backstory of the Poem
“What I Learned This Week”
By Angela Narciso Torres
https://christalcooper.com/012-backstory-of-the-poem-what-i-learned-this-week-by-angela-narciso-torres/
#013 Backstory of the Poem
“Holidays On ICE”
By Jan Steckel
https://christalcooper.com/013-backstory-of-the-poem-holiday-on-ice-by-jan-steckel/
#014 Backstory of the Poem
“Colors”
by Ibrahim Honjo
https://christalcooper.com/014-backstory-of-the-poem-colors-by-ibrahim-honjo/
#015 Backstory of the Poem
“Ode To Disappointment”
By Marilyn Kallett
https://christalcooper.com/015-backstory-of-the-poem-ode-to-disappointment-by-marilyn-kallet/
#016 Backstory of the Poem
“Reliquary”
by Beth Copeland
https://christalcooper.com/016-backstory-of-the-poem-reliquary-from-the-poetry-collection-blue-honey-by-beth-copeland-published-by-broadkill-river-press-on-by-beth-copeland/
#017 Backstory of the Poem
‘The Swallows of Barcelona”
by Marlon L. Fick
https://christalcooper.com/17-backstory-of-the-poem-the-swallows-of-barcelona-by-marlon-fick/
#18th Backstory of the Poem
“Arterial Discombobulation”
by Juliet Cook
https://christalcooper.com/18-backstory-of-the-poem-arterial-discombobulation-from-the-poetry-collection-malformed-confetti-by-juliet-cook-published-by-poets-haven-and-distributed-by-crisis-chronicles-pre/
#19th Backstory of the Poem
“Stiletto Killer . . . A Surmise” from the poetry collection ENTER HERE
By Alexis Rhone Fancher
https://christalcooper.com/19-backstory-of-the-poem-stiletto-killer-a-surmise-from-the-poetry-collection-enter-here-by-alexis-rhone-fancher-published-by-kyso-flash-press-on-may-7-2017/
#20 Backstory of the Poem
“At Last I Can Start Suffering”
By Charles Rammelkamp
https://christalcooper.com/20-backstory-of-the-poem-at-least-i-can-start-suffering-by-charles-rammelkamp/
#21 Backstory of the Poem
“Wind Chimes”
by Marla Shaw O’Neil
https://christalcooper.com/21-backstory-of-the-poem-wind-chimes-by-marla-shaw-oneil/?fbclid=IwY2xjawIjMNNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHZQFdo94O7LKMil17FlOgVUVubHSHQ8S5Ftp4hyk0xbWHntvLahBMGmvfA_aem_tt05lJXulO3YYa6hZ1eoOw
#022 Backstory of the Poem
“Studying Ariel”
by Julia Gordon-Bramer
https://christalcooper.com/22-backstory-of-the-poem-studying-ariel-by-julia-gordon-bramer/
#023 Backstory of Poem
“Jesus Zombie”
by Bill Yarrow
https://christalcooper.com/23-backstory-of-the-poem-jesus-zombie-by-bill-yarrow/
#24 Backstory of the Poem
“Brag 2016:
by Telaina Eriksen
https://christalcooper.com/24-backstory-of-the-poem-brag-2016-by-telaina-eriksen/?fbclid=IwY2xjawIzGJdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHZeayRlw6zYAOyP5qo6As9vRo5uNe7KOuLd5Jx3Up6Vu1iQKKnrFGJNL0Q_aem_7xQOqqtavclwCkvKupxujA
#025 Backstory of the Poem
“It is only Yourself that Bends – so Wake up!”
by Seth Berg
https://christalcooper.com/25-backstory-of-the-poem-it-is-only-yourself-that-bends-so-wake-up-by-seth-berg/
#26 Backstory of the Poem
“Devil In the Details”
by David Herrle
https://christalcooper.com/26-backstory-of-the-poem-devil-in-the-details-by-david-herrle/
#27 Backstory of the Poem
“Carmen Polo, Lady Necklaces, 2017”
by Gloria Mindock
https://christalcooper.com/27-backstory-of-the-poem-carmen-polo-lady-necklaces-2017-by-gloria-mindock/
#28 Backstory of the Poem
“Two Deaths”
by Connie Post
https://christalcooper.com/28-backstory-of-the-poem-two-deaths-by-connie-post/
#029 Backstory of the Poem
“Faces in a Crowd”
by Mary Harwell Sayler
https://christalcooper.com/29-backstory-of-the-poem-faces-in-a-crowd-from-the-poetry-collection-faces-in-a-crowd-by-mary-harwell-sayler/
#030 Backstory of the Poem
“The Risking Point”
by Larry Jaffe
https://christalcooper.com/30-backstory-of-the-poem-the-risking-point-from-the-poetry-collection-dont-take-candy-from-strangers-by-larry-jaffe/
031 September 24, 2018
“After We Drove”
by Mark Lee Webb
https://christalcooper.com/31-backstory-of-the-poem-after-we-drove-by-mark-lee-webb/
#032 Backstory of the Poem
Melissa Studdard’s “Astral”
https://christalcooper.com/32-backstory-of-the-poem-astral-by-melissa-studdard/
