Seated in her office which was littered with various books, papers, and bumper stickers that carried phrases such as "Obamanos" or "united we art," English Professor Jenny Browne found inspiration for her poetry practice in all corners of life.
Browne, interested in what she called the "music of language," says, “Poetry is about paying better attention, to both the outer and inner landscape. It helps me to be awake, aware of the hook of the language, feeling, or image that might spark a poem.”
Amidst the whirlwind that includes family, kids, teaching, and multiple other commitments, Browne always finds a time to write and process her thoughts. “I sit down and try to say something honest, precise, and maybe even interesting,” she says.
Amidst the whirlwind that includes family, kids, teaching, and multiple other commitments, Browne always finds a time to write and process her thoughts. “I sit down and try to say something honest, precise, and maybe even interesting,” she says.
Her writing starts with a concept in the form of a word or phrase, which develops into a more complex form. She then observes what directions her thoughts go, an act she calls “listening to language.” Most days, she didn’t end up with a finished piece. However, that never deterred her. “I fail most days, but I trust that showing up is the important part.”
Her trust in her ability to produce her work at the end carries her throughout the poetry-making process, and she won’t have it any other way. Trusting in the production of a product rather than knowing the exact outcome ensures that the possibilities for her poetry are endless. Knowing the end product, rather than improving her craft, limited her ability to create, she says.
Although Browne was not sure of her end product, her creative process does not require her to always find inspiration and develop it in the dark. Instead, she has developed instincts overtime that help her trust her impulses.
Describing how experience built her skill, she says, “The more I write, the more I’m able to recognize what has pushed through into a deeper inquiry or even just a sense of surprise. That’s what I’m looking for, and if I try to force it, I’m usually stuck.”
Browne’s trust in her organic poetry-writing process eventually led to the Poet Laureate of San Antonio, Texas. In March, Browne was chosen by the city as its third poet laureate. As the city’s poet laureate, Browne will be writing poems for events in the city and introducing poetry to communities that have not been exposed to poetry too much.
Browne’s passion and talent also affects those around her. Kelly Carlisle, assistant professor in the Department of English, says, “Jenny is a role model for all of us on how to be open to the world and what it can show us, as well as how to work really, really hard.”
Daniel Farris is a senior psychology major who has taken a class with Browne. “One of the coolest things I learned in [Browne’s] class was that the source material for a poem can be literally anything,” he says. “You don’t have to limit yourself to what you already know.”
Although trust is an important part of her writing career, it hadn’t always been present in her life. Browne reflected on her 19-year-old self who had worried about knowing the next right step. But then, her mentor, poet Naomi Shihab Nye, told her, “You know, everything leads to something,” Browne recalls.
Still keeping that piece of advice to her heart, Browne says, “I think if you feel engaged by something, if you feel interested, whatever it is, it’s going to shape you.”
Although Browne was not sure of her end product, her creative process does not require her to always find inspiration and develop it in the dark. Instead, she has developed instincts overtime that help her trust her impulses.
Describing how experience built her skill, she says, “The more I write, the more I’m able to recognize what has pushed through into a deeper inquiry or even just a sense of surprise. That’s what I’m looking for, and if I try to force it, I’m usually stuck.”
Browne’s trust in her organic poetry-writing process eventually led to the Poet Laureate of San Antonio, Texas. In March, Browne was chosen by the city as its third poet laureate. As the city’s poet laureate, Browne will be writing poems for events in the city and introducing poetry to communities that have not been exposed to poetry too much.
Browne’s passion and talent also affects those around her. Kelly Carlisle, assistant professor in the Department of English, says, “Jenny is a role model for all of us on how to be open to the world and what it can show us, as well as how to work really, really hard.”
Daniel Farris is a senior psychology major who has taken a class with Browne. “One of the coolest things I learned in [Browne’s] class was that the source material for a poem can be literally anything,” he says. “You don’t have to limit yourself to what you already know.”
Although trust is an important part of her writing career, it hadn’t always been present in her life. Browne reflected on her 19-year-old self who had worried about knowing the next right step. But then, her mentor, poet Naomi Shihab Nye, told her, “You know, everything leads to something,” Browne recalls.
Still keeping that piece of advice to her heart, Browne says, “I think if you feel engaged by something, if you feel interested, whatever it is, it’s going to shape you.”
No comments:
Post a Comment