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Treasuring Poetry – Enjoying poetry with Dave Williams and a review of Gasp! Poetry! #TreasuringPoetry #bookreview #poetry

Posted: January 15, 2025 | Author: | Filed under: Books, Poetry, Treasuring Poetry, Writing to be Read | Tags: , , , , , , , |81 Comments
Picture caption: Treasuring Poetry 2025 banner featuring Tokyo at night with buildings reflected in the moat waters.

I am very excited to welcome talented artist, poet, and author, Dave Williams to “Treasuring Poetry”. Dave is discussing his thoughts on poetry and I’ve reviewed his unique poetry book Gasp! Poetry!

What is your favourite style of poetry to read i.e. haiku, ballad, epic, freestyle, etc?

Freestyle. I like playful poetry, and poetry that causes me to think of stuff in different ways than my status quo. Also, I’m a big fan of short poetry about nature. Doesn’t have to be haiku. Poems that focus on one aspect of nature, be that a particular animal or plant or season. This kind of poetry is like a seed for me to meditate over that aspect of nature.

What is your favourite poem in your favourite style to read?

My favorite poem by another writer is “maggie and milly and molly and may” by E. E. Cummings. I love it because it’s lively and frisky and profound. And because it reminds me of growing up near the Atlantic Ocean. And because one of my daughters is named Molly (with a capital M, not lowercase like in the poem — although she’s welcome to be creative with the capitalization of her name if she likes).

The poem:

maggie and milly and molly and may

went down to the beach (to play one day)

and maggie discovered a shell that sang

so sweetly she couldn’t remember her troubles,and

milly befriended a stranded star

whose rays five languid fingers were;

and molly was chased by a horrible thing

which raced sideways while blowing bubbles:and

may came home with a smooth round stone

as small as a world and as large as alone.

For whatever we lose (like a you or a me)

it’s always ourselves we find in the sea

Source: https://poets.org/poem/maggie-and-milly-and-molly-and-may

What is your favourite style of poetry to write? Why?

I enjoy writing freestyle the most. Limericks and haiku can be fun to write by following their rules. But I typically go with freestyle because I don’t have to worry about rhymes or syllables or meter.

What is your favourite of your own poems?

A tough question, Robbie! One poem of mine doesn’t jump out as a favorite. I looked through Gasp! Poetry! to find one to include here. I chuckled over several poems, but the poem that clicks with me right now isn’t aimed at humor. Rather, it feels hopeful:

Chickadee

Seeing an eagle,

the chickadee

aspired to greatness:

soaring high in the

Great Blue

Yet he could not

transform into that epic bird

In her son’s sullenness,

mama chickadee asked

the elders to offer wisdom

They told him

there’s a quiet dignity

in being a chickadee

and that

warmed his heart.

Your poetry collection Gasp! Poetry! has a most unusual name and blurb. Please tell us a bit about this book, what the poems are about, and what your intentions were will the collection.

The cover tries to warn people who have no interest in poetry. The title and cover illustration pretend what such a person’s reaction might be to a poetry book. They might throw up their hands and shriek, “Gasp! Poetry!” Then they’d run for the safety of a Non-Poetry Zone. Where, after catching their breath, they might tell other people how close they got to a poetry book and how terrifying it was. The cover uses drama for humor (hopefully).

Some poems in the book aim for silliness, while others are serious. The topics are assorted. One short poem is about a monkey taking a bath. One long poem is about how Scheherazade told a thousand tales to avoid being murdered. If you’ve followed my blog for a while, chances are good that you’ve read poems from this collection.

My intention was to package a bunch of poems on my blog, and ones that haven’t been published there yet. I hoped to entertain readers who like playfulness and absurdity in poems.

You write both novels and poetry. Which do you prefer?

Novels. Even when short, they’re more immersive than poems — which are like sketches to me (since I don’t write epic poems). I enjoy pondering possible plot paths of novels, as well as possible backgrounds of characters. It’s akin to reading a book and being immersed in the story. But with novel writing, the story can unfurl in various, potential directions. Joy is in exploring and shaping the story. So is frustration. But it’s worth the frustration when the book is finished.

My review of Gasp! Poetry!

Picture caption: Cover of Gasp! Poetry! featuring a hand drawn circle man with his arms thrown upwards in anguish.

The amusing title of this poetry collection by Dave Williams is indicative of the nature of the poetry. All of the poems are clever, slightly dark, and poke fun at humans and humanity in general. In other words, these poems are brilliant and hugely entertaining.

Is a Poem about Grains of Sand on a Beach Too Pretentious?
“I wondered that question,
lying on a floral beach towel,
a speck in a crowd
of swimsuited people –
all of us were lumps of cookie dough
glazed with sunscreen and coconut oil
baking in this oven.”
The short extract above is a great example of Dave dark humour in relation to human behaviours and his engaging descriptions.

Valor is a great example of the poet’s quick and clever mind and attitudes towards adversity:
“”You’re not sharp enough?”
“Get some sides!”

Yells were hurled from
the crowd of octagons
at the little circle.
“You look ridiculous!”

The circle puffed up
with valor,
said “I am what I am,”
refused to conform,
then rolled defiantly towards home.”

This was my favourite poem in the book. I really enjoyed the personification of shapes and it reminded me of Flatland by Edward Abbott Abbott.

There is some wonderful life wisdom encased in these freestyle poems. A short extract from Ocean Inside which captivated my mind:
“Meanwhile I work against the urge to liquefy myself
and pour myself into the container
others have sculpted for me”

Having gone through my own teenage years and watched three sisters and two sons go through theirs, I am acutely aware of how very real this pack mentality is with young people. Sometimes, people never manage to escape its grip and find their own path in life.

If you enjoy dark humour, excellent poetry, and life truths, you will love this engaging and entertaining collection.

You can purchase Gasp! Poetry! from various suppliers here: https://books2read.com/u/mBJjRk

You can find all of Dave William’s great books on Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Dave-Williams/author/B08662D961

About Dave Williams

Picture caption: Author photograph of Dave Williams

Surely many people are named “Dave Williams” and this particular Dave is a redheaded one who enjoys writing speculative fiction, drawing, and reading. He lives in Maryland with his wonderful wife, two inspirational daughters, and two cats (a lazy one and a playful one).

You can find Dave Williams on his blog here: https://davewilliamswriter.wordpress.com/

About Robbie Cheadle

Photo of Robbie Cheadle standing in front of trees.

South African author and illustrator, Robbie Cheadle, has written and illustrated sixteen children’s books, illustrated a further three children’s books, and written and illustrated three poetry books. Her work has also appeared in poetry and short story anthologies.

Robbie also has two novels and a collection of short stories published under the name of Roberta Eaton Cheadle and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.

You can find Robbie Cheadle’s artwork, fondant and cake artwork, and all her books on her website here: https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/

________________________

Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.

__________________________

This segment of “Treasuring Poetry” is sponsored by WordCrafter Press and the Poetry Treasures series.

Get Your Copy Today!

Poetry Treasures: https://books2read.com/PoetryTreasures

Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships: https://books2read.com/PT2-Relationships

Poetry Treasures 3: Passions: https://books2read.com/u/b5qnBR

Poetry Treasures 4:In Touch With Nature: https://books2read.com/PT4-Nature

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81 Comments on “Treasuring Poetry – Enjoying poetry with Dave Williams and a review of Gasp! Poetry! #TreasuringPoetry #bookreview #poetry”

  1. Ephemeral Encounters's avatar Ephemeral Encounters says:
    January 15, 2025 at 4:46 am

    Wonderful interview Robbie.
    Thank you for sharing.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply
  2. Unknown's avatar Treasuring Poetry – Enjoying poetry with Dave Williams and a review of Gasp! Poetry! #AuthorInterview #Reblog, #Revi ew, #Release – Patty's Worlds says:
    January 15, 2025 at 6:36 am

    […] https://writingtoberead.com/2025/01/15/treasuring-poetry-enjoying-poetry-with-dave-williams-and-a-re… […]

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  3. Dave Williams's avatar Dave Williams says:
    January 15, 2025 at 6:53 am

    Thank you guys very much for interviewing me and spotlighting my poetry book in your Treasuring Poetry series. I appreciate it. And I’m delighted that you liked the book! 🌞 

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  4. Dave Astor's avatar Dave Astor says:
    January 15, 2025 at 7:00 am

    A great blog-post package, Robbie, Dave, and Kaye Lynne! Excellent interview and poetry excerpts. Dave, your “Chickadee” poem is heartwarming and masterful.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  5. OIKOS™- Art, Books & more's avatar OIKOS™- Art, Books & more says:
    January 15, 2025 at 7:32 am

    Thanks for introducing a new interesting artist, Robbie! Your interviews are famous. You are very skilled in this too. Best wishes, Michael

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  6. beetleypete's avatar beetleypete says:
    January 15, 2025 at 7:49 am

    Good luck to Dave with his writing. Shared both posts on Twitter, Robbie.

    Best wishes, Pete.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  7. Stevie Turner's avatar Stevie Turner says:
    January 15, 2025 at 8:06 am

    Great interview! Like Dave, I think freestyle poetry is best.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  8. Jacqui Murray's avatar Jacqui Murray says:
    January 15, 2025 at 8:21 am

    With a cover like that, Dave, who could not check out the book!

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply
  9. John W. Howell's avatar John W. Howell says:
    January 15, 2025 at 8:55 am

    An excellent interview, Dave and Robbie. The poems Dave selected are wonderful examples and it is clear why he selected the,. Thanks to you both.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  10. Esther Chilton's avatar Esther Chilton says:
    January 15, 2025 at 10:09 am

    A very interesting post. I really enjoyed it and the poems. Thank you 😊

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  11. Author Jan Sikes's avatar Author Jan Sikes says:
    January 15, 2025 at 10:46 am

    What a fun interview! Dave’s sense of humor comes across in his poem as well as the one he shared from E.E. Cummings. Thanks for sharing, Robbie!

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  12. T. W. Dittmer's avatar T. W. Dittmer says:
    January 15, 2025 at 11:22 am

    Marvelous, Robbie! This is a wonderful way to share someone’s poetry.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  13. D.L. Finn, Author's avatar D.L. Finn, Author says:
    January 15, 2025 at 11:45 am

    Great interview and review! I picked up my copy oglf Gasp! Poetry!

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  14. beth's avatar beth says:
    January 15, 2025 at 1:58 pm

    great interview, Dave and love your fav poem, along with your own poem.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  15. Teri Polen's avatar Teri Polen says:
    January 15, 2025 at 3:53 pm

    I enjoyed learning more about Dave! I’m a big fan of the title and cover of the poetry book, lol.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  16. Liz Gauffreau's avatar Liz Gauffreau says:
    January 15, 2025 at 4:35 pm

    “Is a Poem about Grains of Sand on a Beach Too Pretentious?” has to be in the top ten of best poem titles ever. The same holds true for the book title!

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  17. memadtwo's avatar memadtwo says:
    January 15, 2025 at 5:44 pm

    Thanks for reminding me of that ee cummings poem.

    I like the combination of seriousness and humor in Dave’s work. (K)

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  18. Carla's avatar Carla says:
    January 15, 2025 at 6:28 pm

    Great interview, Robbie. It looks like Dave has quite the sense of humour.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  19. Brenda Marie Fluharty's avatar Brenda Marie Fluharty says:
    January 15, 2025 at 7:17 pm

    Wonderful interview Robbie. I love David’s style of writing. Going to have to check out his book.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  20. D. Wallace Peach's avatar D. Wallace Peach says:
    January 16, 2025 at 8:38 am

    What a great interview, Robbie and Dave. The title and the cover of the book perfectly match Dave’s intention, and the poes you highlighted, Robbie, were great examples. My favorite was “Ocean Inside.” How beautiful. Congrats to Dave on the feature, and thanks for hosting Robbie and Kaye Lynne. 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  21. Wynne Leon's avatar Wynne Leon says:
    January 16, 2025 at 9:34 am

    Oh, the valiant Chickadee! Great interview, Dave!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  22. tidalscribe.com's avatar tidalscribe.com says:
    January 16, 2025 at 11:31 am

    I love the cover and enjoyed those poems you included, a great introduction to Dave.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  23. Resa's avatar Resa says:
    January 17, 2025 at 10:15 am

    Thank you Robbie and Kaye Lynn for hosting this interview with Dave!

    I adore that he has a sense of humour. The words about the shapes are hilarious.

    The 2 cited poems are terrific. All in all an enjoyable post.

    Thank you Dave!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  24. Teagan Riordain Geneviene's avatar Teagan Riordain Geneviene says:
    January 18, 2025 at 11:17 am

    It’s great to see Dave featured. Thanks for posting your review. Hugs.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  25. Jennie's avatar Jennie says:
    January 18, 2025 at 7:27 pm

    I enjoyed this interview.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  26. byngnigel's avatar byngnigel says:
    January 19, 2025 at 4:53 am

    a wonderful interview with Dave. And I love that he dances all over the place with his creative energy. A kindred spirit. Thank you for sharing this Robbie.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  27. Annette Rochelle Aben's avatar Annette Rochelle Aben says:
    January 19, 2025 at 8:33 am

    I love everything about this post… The sense of humor, the poetry by Dave and Cummings. Celebrating his every success!!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

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