#36 Backstory of the Poem “The Second Breakfast” by Gary Glauber

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 have several methods of kick starting my poetic inspiration, and sometimes that means going through an exercise or a prompt.  For instance, there is a fine journal entitled The First Line (https://www.thefirstline.com/) that provides an opening line, and all the stories in that issue will branch off from that shared opener.  Other publications (like 3 Elements Review or Eclectica’s Word Challenge) (http://3elementsreview.com/submit) provide a list of unrelated words that must be used in the work.

For this particular poem, I read a call for submissions from a small literary journal based in Edinburgh, Scotland entitled Far Off Places (http://faroffplaces.org/). They provided the title months ahead of the deadline and in turn writers were asked to create pieces from that. Their Volume III, Issue 1, was going to be called “The Second Breakfast.” The first draft of my poem with that title was written in early June, 2014.

I found the title intriguing. What would make someone eat a second breakfast? I started thinking back on any memorable breakfasts from my own past, and an idea began to form. I’m not one to kiss and tell, but this poem contains aspects based on a true story.  My junior undergraduate year of college (LEFT) was a busy one made busier by the attempted feat of juggling several relationships simultaneously. Long story short, it cannot be done. It is just a matter of time before worlds collide and things fall apart. In my youthful ignorance, perhaps I thought otherwise – or more likely, I did not think it through at all.  At any rate, I performed original music (RIGHT) at coffeehouses back then, and after one performance, a woman came up to me and asked if I had any plans for breakfast the next day. I admired the clever way she caught my interest, and that soon became a memorable breakfast story. So now I had my rough source material – my task was to access the emotional confusion of that time, pondering whether or not to pursue that relationship further (hence, the second breakfast). 

Where were you when you started to actually write the poem? What month and year?

I worked hard at my computer in my book-lined den (which is my regular workspace) and managed to put together a draft that I felt was worthy of submission. It often seems fairly messy, but I do have a system of arranging my writings. I also enjoy listening to music as I write (on most occasions).

On June 7^th, 2014 ,  I sent it via email to the journal (FAR OFF PRESS.)  About a week later, I received an acknowledgment of my submission, and a promise that final decisions would be made by August of that year. That promise was optimistic.  On November 8^th, I actually heard back from Annie Rutherford in an email that said the following:

 

Dear Gary,

Many thanks again for your submission to Far Off Places (https://www.facebook.com/FarOffPlaces/) and apologies for the horribly slow response – the last few months were considerably more hectic than we could have anticipated.

We had quite a ponder over your poem, but I’m sorry to say that, on consideration, we didn’t feel it was right for the magazine. I enjoyed the tone and the relationship depicted was fresh and unusual – but something just didn’t click. I wonder whether the piece might almost work better as a (longer) prose piece? It feels like either the poem should be stripped down to its bare bones – at the moment it tells us, rather than shows us what happens – or it should be developed into a longer portrait of the relationship.

Sorry for the disheartening news. Please do submit to us in future though – we’d be keen to read more of your work.

It was disheartening, but it forced me to reassess the poem. I removed parts of lines that seemed trite or clichéd, and grouped the stanzas differently until I got to where it seemed stronger. I now had to find a new home for it, but I was keeping the title.  (For those interested, take a look at my notes on an earlier version of the poem.)

So I sent out the revised version.  It got a nice personalized rejection in December from Four Chambers Press (http://fourchamberspress.com/), who said “while we loved the opportunity of second breakfast, the way you were able to entertain both playful and serious,(and) the narrative conflict was really strong to boot, we regret to inform you that we are unable to publish ‘The Second Breakfast’ at this point in time.”  It was getting closer.

Several journals rejected it outright, but I persisted. Finally, on February 28, 2015, the poem was accepted as oneof a group of poems by Katie Moore (https://www.facebook.com/asherahkat?lst=100004428366683%3A1153156572%3A1540925608) and John Hancock (https://www.facebook.com/jghmemphis?lst=100004428366683%3A1425125146%3A1540925731) of The Legendary, who published it in their March, 2015 Issue 48 online (http://www.downdirtyword.com/authors/garyglauber.html)

It also was included in my chapbook Memory Marries Desire (from Finishing Line Press) in 2016, with my preferred spacing intact.

Anything you would like to add?  

I think people avoid love poems in general these days, but there are notes of the universal to be found in the complexity of relationships – the emotions, the turmoil, the challenges.  I would encourage the exploration of those aspects, because they are genuine and offer points of association and identification.

Contact information?  It would be lovely if people felt curious enough to seek out my work at either Amazon or Barnes & Noble, or through the sites of the indie publishers. Here is the link to my Amazon page:  https://www.amazon.com/default/e/B012BMLL3E?redirectedFromKindleDbs=true

Gary Glauber is a poet, fiction writer, teacher, and former music journalist.  His works have received multiplePushcart Prize and Best of the Net nominations. He champions the underdog to the melodic rhythms of obscure power pop. His two collections, Small Consolations (Aldrich Press) and Worth the Candle (Five Oaks Press) and a chapbook Memory Marries Desire (Finishing Line Press) are available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and the publishers.

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/

 

#18^th 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/

#19^th 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 Backstory of the Poem

Mark Lee Webb’s “After We Drove”

https://christalcooper.com/31-backstory-of-the-poem-after-we-drove-by-mark-lee-webb/

 

#032 Backstory of the Poem

“Astral”

by Melissa Studdard

https://christalcooper.com/32-backstory-of-the-poem-astral-by-melissa-studdard/

#033 Backstory of the Poem

“I Have A Bass Guitar Called Vanessa”

https://christalcooper.com/33-backstory-of-the-poem-i-have-a-bass-guitar-called-vanessa-by-robert-craven/

#034 Backstory of the Poem

David Sullivan’s “Paper Mache Peaches of Heaven”

https://christalcooper.com/34-backstory-of-the-poem-paper-mache-peaches-of-heaven-by-david-sullivan/

 

#035 Backstory of the Poem

“Sobriety” 

by Timothy Gager

https://christalcooper.com/35-backstory-of-the-poem-sobriety-from-the-poetry-collection-chief-jay-strongbow-is-real-by-timothy-gager-published-by-big-table-publishing-on-july-18-2017/