By Abigail Albair, Editor, The West Hartford Press
appeared in the December 15th, 2011 edition of The West Hartford Press.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe said that “personality is everything in art and poetry.”
West Hartford has a poet with a lot of personality, yet no one knows who the person is.
West Hartford Poet Rogue has been writing rhyme on a blog for less than a year, all about the goings-on in town, anonymously.
Most recently, he or she crafted a Thanksgiving poem, and prior to that, a poem about Winter Storm Alfred and its aftermath in West Hartford.
That poem was e-mailed to The West Hartford Press and Mayor Scott Slifka, and subsequently read aloud by Deputy Mayor Shari Cantor at a Town Council meeting.
While Poet Rogue’s poetry has started to garner attention, The West Hartford Press decided to seek out more information about the person behind the poetry and requested an interview with the writer, while still keeping their identity a secret.
West Hartford Poet Rogue answered in an e-mail:
“Thanks again for this opportunity
To become known in the community
So for this honor I’ve taken the time
To answer your questions wholly in rhyme.”
What follows are the interview questions and poetic answers, which provide just a bit more insight into West Hartford’s own phantom:
Q: The town has had a poet laureate since 2005, a position in which a person traditionally composes poetry for the town, similar to what you do. What are your feelings on the town’s use of a poet laureate?
A:
Town Poet Laureates, the town has had three
None of their poetry’s been seen by me
They may be great poets of much renown
But they don’t write verse of happ’nings in town
Perhaps I expect much and don’t know it
Is that not the job of the town poet?
Q: How long have you been writing poetry, and how long have you been writing under the name “West Hartford Poet Rogue?”
A:
When poet number three was chosen last May
I thought quite a bit, decided that day
It was up to ME to get the job done
And at the same time to have lots of fun
So rather than sit like bump on a log
I sprang into action starting my blog
Q: Why do you choose to write anonymously?
A:
People not knowing adds a mystery
To West Hartford’s colorful history
Folks should be thinking as they roam the town
Is it that woman at Big Y or Crown?
Perhaps Poet Rogue is one of those dudes
Buying their yogurt at either Whole Foods
Maybe it’s that guy behind you in line
At Dot Com Liquors just buying some wine
Sitting at Petersen’s eating your frips
Think “It’s that girl with mint chocolate chips!”
Is it the teller at your local bank?
Maybe the clerk where you fill up your tank
I bet it’s that guy who sits there so smug
Having a beer down at the Corner Pug
It could be the woman right near the door
At Bombay Olive with Chicken Tandoor
Rather than some unapproachable bard
Since writing poetry’s not very hard,
I want as they wonder who it could be
To think “Poet Rogue sure seems just like me”
Q: Have you ever had someone, not knowing that you are the West Hartford Poet Rogue, comment on or point out a poet rogue poem to you?
A:
Yes that has happened, in fact quite a lot
Guess my identity still they cannot
Q: Many of your poems express an opinion in poetic form. From your “Farewell to Diane Mudge” you speak as a conservative. Is it strictly your opinion that you want to share or are you at times speaking of feelings that you’ve found to be prevalent in the West Hartford community?
A:
West Hartford at times seems so high-brow
Affairs in town we with grandness endow
I see my job to reflect tongue-in-cheek
Writing a poem every third or fourth week
Writing about celebrations in town
I echo the mood of people around
No matter what secrets we try to keep
Bits of ourselves to the work seem to creep
Q: How long do you mull over a topic before inspiration strikes to write a poem and what topics in town do you consider most worthy of your poetry?
A:
Once with a topic I’ve been inspired
A day or two is all that’s required
For topics to choose, there sure is no lack
The dog park, taxes and Square of Blue Back
Elections, lawn signs are not to be missed
And current events please add to the list
Lest you may think that I only can jest
Sometimes I prefer to show off the best
Like the great happiness we felt by far
For our own West Hartford’s Singing Rock Star
With poem called Checkpoint I also tried
To show a more serious and somber side
Q: Do you write poetry other than your West Hartford
poetry?
A:
With all these topics to choose close at hand
All of my poetry time they demand
With life’s tasks to do, who can find the time?
Just an occasional greeting card rhyme
Q: What can residents expect to see from you in 2012?
A:
Nostradamus I’m not, that I’ll admit
So telling the future, I will omit
Topics galore are already churning
Fingers and pen are already burning
Next year’s elections are sure to be fun
I’m sure with the dog park we aren’t done
Students and schools and fathers and mothers
Taxes, the busway, who knows what others
Let me suggest, there’s a sure way to know
On the web to my blog often do go!
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