Arc of the Poet, Part 12: Resistance

In the spring of 1995, I was trying to be many things to many people, and those wide attempts to stretch, please and succeed consumed so much energy that more than once, I was caught unprepared for the results. Especially for my inner-poet, it was a mad time.

That January, I had sent the following letter to Tom Tilford at Midwest Poetry Review to thank him for publishing Ethereal Stones, share more work and continue building our relationship. The sticky note he returned with my letter appears below.

When April came, I had more poetry to share with Tom. Into my care package I optimistically added The Gondoliers Sing Love Songs, which as you may recall, finally had its world premiere several weeks ago, in part 2 of this series. The response came by postal mail; dated on my 29th birthday, it appeared soon thereafter in my Esther Street mailbox. Much to my surprise, it was not from Tom at all… but rather, John K. Ottley, Jr., the magazine’s new publisher.

Since receiving his letter so many years ago, I have found that Mr. Ottley is a very accomplished poet and publisher in his own right. You can see that he was quite personal with me right away; the volume and depth of his correspondence really had my head swimming. At first, I was very flattered to have anyone provide specific comments on poems I’d written – so naturally, hearing them from the new publisher of a magazine I’d come to cherish, my attention was undivided… and I was literally living a dream. Unfortunately, by the time I got to the bottom, I was fuming. I wrote him back immediately, telling him to remove my poem from consideration.

I do not have the letter I sent to Mr. Ottley, but his reply dated May 19 indicates how little time passed between our respective snail-mailings – and the general spirit of my missive, for whatever that may be worth.

This entry contains no poems. Rather, I will just end with my follow-up response to Mr. Ottley. To all of this, I’ll add that the experience has been instrumental in my education as an aspiring poet, as a writer and as a professional. Among those I consider to be gateways into the literary world, I feel very lucky to have met both Tom Tilford and John K. Ottley, Jr.

What would have happened if Gondoliers had appeared in the July 1995 issue of Midwest Poetry Review? It would have been great, for sure; I can’t imagine how things may have proceeded from there, if only I’d been better at dealing with Mr. Ottley’s quirkiness, and his straightforward criticism. The man took an interest in me and really seemed intent on publishing my work; for those honors, I remain humbled and extremely grateful.

As my journey has continued, I’ve always tried to value any input received from anyone I respect, even if we disagree. I know that openness and willingness to bend is critical for achieving things with others… and that, with a little help, anything really is possible.

May 16, 1995

John Ottley, Jr.
Midwest Poetry Review
Box 20236
Atlanta, GA 30325-0236

Dear John:

Thanks for the letter. I honor your right to reply and appreciate your following through with me. That you are opening up your hopper is important to note; that I so brashly assumed you’d continue the previous policy as I did is humbling. I apologize for mistaking your judgment along those lines.

Meanwhile, I will also echo the sentiment that prompted my last letter: I sincerely wish you’d stick to the point and concentrate on communicating your message.

Your clean letters consist of terse paragraphs with no typos. Your presence in them is respectable. Your humor is also appreciated. However, I do believe some of the words you’ve chosen to send my way have undermined your messages.

For example, a tad more consideration might have led to your finding another way to relate the act of returning my poem to pulling a log from a woodpile and continuing to describe how others tumble down to fill the space. To me, that doesn’t indicate much respect for the work or the folks behind it, especially since you said it to me (a writer). Also you tell me you look for poems which hold themselves together despite the form. The way I think, rhyming poetry excels by virtue of the form, which many ignore or otherwise don’t take the time to understand. Although I realize you can’t get inside every person’s head, what I’m saying is that you can make choices which would endear me (a writer) more toward you (a publisher).

I’ll elaborate a bit more. To be real honest, I sense a contemptuous tone throughout your last letter, right up until you wish me the best, bro, and sign ‘yours sincerely’ (GULP). Since that’s your closing, I do thank you for the warm sentiments. If I haven’t imagined it, the leer must be unintended.

To help you see my perspective, I’ve so far written four screenplays for feature films (two written for-hire), an original half-hour teleplay currently under consideration by Toronto’s ShowCase Television, a dozen short film scripts (half have been produced), many commercials, PSAs, marketing scripts, articles in prominent national film, TV, pro sound and recording industry trade magazines and volumes of creative work. Over eight years of production work, I’ve helped produce presentations for top film industry executives and recently participated in productions on pilots and episodes for Columbia Pictures TV.

Thanks again for your sincerity, for relating what issues did come across loudly and clearly in your letters (you did like my work, you’re at the helm publishing a new MPR, that you take a personal interest in poetry), and for sticking with me as I try to help you make the most of the opportunity you’re shaping.

Best wishes,

Roger Darnell