A Conversation With a Poet: Verde Mar

Welcome to “A Conversation With a Poet,” an exclusive series where we delve into the minds and musings of contemporary poets. Each session is a journey into the personal and creative realms of a poet, exploring their inspirations, processes, and the profound impact poetry has on their lives. Through these interviews, I aim to uncover the unique voices that share across stanzas and stir the soul, offering my readers a glimpse into the artistry and emotional depth that poetry embodies. Join us as we celebrate the power of words and the poets who craft them.

From the heart of the Sonoran Desert emerges the voice of Verde Mar, a poet whose spirit defies time. At 70 years young, he began his poetic journey in 2019, proving that it’s never too late to follow the rhythm of your soul. Since then, he has authored three books, with more on the horizon. His third collection, A Wave Without a Shore, is set to be released this summer through Pegasus/Archway, while his fourth, Tides of Light, is already nearing completion, aiming to arrive in 2026.

Poetry Background

What inspired you to begin writing poetry?

I have a wild imagination, extremely intuitive and empathic, and I’ve written my entire life.

Who are your favorite poets, and how have they influenced your work?

Hermann Hesse’s work draws me in with its introspective depth and philosophical spirit of Romanticism and Symbolism. His poetry often drifts through themes of longing and the human condition. I’m also drawn to the surreal lyricism of Arthur Rimbaud and the poetic storytelling of Bob Dylan, whose music carries the weight of poetry in every line.

Creative Process

Can you describe your writing process? How do you typically start a poem?

I don’t prepare or plan. I drop the needle on a record and let the vibe carry me. It’s not the lyrics I follow, but the feeling. A single word rises, and from there, the poem flows effortlessly.

Do you have any rituals or environments that enhance your creativity?

Music is always my environmental enhancement.

How often do you write, and do you have specific times of day that you find more productive?

I write daily; usually in the quiet of morning or early evening. Since August 2019, over 2,500 poems have found their way out of my mind and onto the page.

Themes and Motivation

What themes or subjects do you find yourself returning to in your poetry? Why?

I’m drawn to themes of melancholy, empathy, and deep emotional resonance. At my core, I’m an intuitive empath, often guided by a quiet undercurrent of sorrow that shapes my perspective.

What is the most challenging aspect of writing poetry for you?

As a relatively new poet of seven years, I haven’t formally studied poetic forms. So when I choose to write in a structure I’m unfamiliar with, the challenge lies in learning the form as I go.

What do you hope to communicate or evoke in your readers?

I hope to stir something deep within the reader; to create a sense of emotional resonance that lingers long after the poem ends.

Publication and Sharing

Have you published your poetry? If so, in what formats (books, online, magazines, etc.)?

I self-published my debut collection, Turbulent Waves: Enigmatic micro-writes cast ashore during a global pandemic, the first in my planned Entangled Universes trilogy. The second book, A Wave Without a Shore, will be released this summer through Pegasus/Archway, with the final volume, Tides of Light, set for 2026. Alongside the trilogy, I have a standalone work, The Empathy of Rain, which is also scheduled for publication this summer through a different press.

Several of my poems appear in the Hidden in Childhood anthology by Literary Revelations, and I’ve had the pleasure of being interviewed twice by Victoria Onofrei on her UK radio show Victoria in Verse. My work has also been featured twice in the Prosetrics literary journal.

How do you feel about sharing your poetry with the public?

It is the thrill of my lifetime.

What has been the most rewarding or memorable response to your work?

The very heartfelt reactions by friends on social media.

Creative Challenges and Overcoming Them

Describe a time when you experienced writer’s block and how you overcame it.

In five years of writing poetry, the well has never run dry. Writer’s block has yet to find me; Calliope, my quiet muse, has kept her vigil since the very first verse.

Have you ever been dissatisfied with a poem you wrote? How did you revise it or deal with the dissatisfaction?

In the early days, I was still finding my poetic rhythm. During the editing process, I set aside nearly three hundred pieces; words that hadn’t yet bloomed, still waiting for their final shape.

Community and Collaboration

Are you part of any poetry communities or groups? How do these communities influence your work?

Primarily through social media; it’s an ongoing learning journey for me. I’ve also started taking part in poetry slams, a new and exciting experience in my creative path

Have you ever collaborated with other poets or artists? What was that experience like?

Absolutely. I love collaborating on co-writes. There’s something special about blending voices to create something neither of us could’ve written alone.

Influence and Inspiration

Besides poets, what other sources of inspiration do you draw from? (e.g., music, art, nature)

Music is my main source of inspiration, but a lifetime of reading has filled me with stories that often resurface as sparks for poetic expression.

Will you share a poem you’ve written and explain the story or inspiration behind it?

After the horrible tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary school in Newtown, I walked the streets (I had family who lived there). Here’s what I wrote:

Sandy Hook Elementary

Ghosts live in Newtown
frozen in Summer
ceremonial priests chant
a haunting unlike any other.

Streets devour footprints
they all disappear
clouds race away like yachts
there’s no finish line.

Churches cry for prayers
despair paints skies
there’s no music here
even thought is gone.

Future Aspirations

What are your goals as a poet for the next few years?

To keep creating and sharing my work with the world through continued writing and publication.

Are there new themes or styles you are interested in exploring?

I’m especially drawn to the Tanka form and plan to continue exploring it further. Lately, I’ve also been leaning into longer works. For my books, I take a non-traditional approach to writing prologues and epilogues—I post brief prose ‘snippets’ on Twitter while I’m working on the poetry itself. Later, I gather those fragments and shape them into a cohesive narrative thread that weaves through the finished book.

Advice and Reflections

What advice would you give to someone just starting out in poetry?

Your thought has helped you communicate with the world around you to date. We all think in metaphors and analogies. Use this stream of conscious thinking to generate your writing. Don’t plan it, just let a word surface on your mind and see what else falls out.

How has writing poetry impacted your life personally and professionally?

I have never experienced the thrill of writing poetry before. I was a software technical writer for thirty years, but never wrote poetry or prose.

Memorable Quote

“I drop the needle on a record and let the vibe carry me. It’s not the lyrics I follow, but the feeling.“

Verde’s Books

New Release!

Book One of Verde Mar’s “Entangled Universe”

Follow Verde on Social Media

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Amazon

P.S. If you’re curious about where Mr. Mar writes each day, enjoy the view below:

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In wrapping up another enlightening conversation, we thank our featured poet for sharing their truths and creative spirit. Each dialogue in “A Conversation With a Poet” enriches our understanding of the intricate tapestry that is poetry. We invite you to reflect on the insights shared today and to join us as we continue exploring the profound connections between words and worlds. Stay tuned for more inspiring encounters in this series.

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