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- The Interview with Matthew
- selected poem "Far From Home"
- featured poem "This is my letter to the world..."
By Emily Dickinson
- featured poem "The Raven"
By Edgar Allan Poe- Q&A - questions asked & answers
Other poetry by Matthew Questions and Answers with Matthew Ward:
(07/03/01 Joe, Middletown, NJ)
Question: By what process do you take your idea and translate it into words? Do you make notes, form an outline, write a rough draft, polish it up? Do you like your poetry up to interpretation?Matthew: I mostly just write out directly. I tried taking note and stuff like that, but it made them seem less personal.
(07/04/01 Gina Ferrara, Brooklyn, NY)
Question: You are a remarkable young man and I have enjoyed all your poetry on this site. Tell me - Why did you want your poetry published on this particular site? Do you have your poems on your own website or any other site?
Matthew: I had been looking around the Internet for some time trying to find a decent site that allowed me to be read and be able to get people's feedback on my poems, and poetheart.com allowed just that. A lot of my poems can be found at ShadowPoetry.com (go to "Poets A-Z", then search for my last name in the W's).
(07/04/01 Marc W., Springfield, IL)
Question: Are pain and disappointment your only inspirations? Have you ever considered writing a happy or uplifting poem? Seems to me that many poets write about negativity...Where are you when things are going well?
Matthew: Things don't normally go well for me... I don't have a lot of happy and uplifting moments in my life (atleast not right now). And it's easier for me to write about negativity... until I get a lot more of those "happy and uplifting" moments! :)
(07/05/01 Hallie, Pittsburgh, PA)
Question: Loved your poem "Swingin' in the South" as it brings forward issues which I can relate to as an African-American, (although you do not specify that the young man who is the subject of your poem is black, we know that he is). I don't believe that you are African-American, so what was your reason for creating this poem?
Matthew: I'm really not sure. I wrote another poem from an African-American perspective called "Freedman"... I guess it was just an image I had in my head that I knew had to happen to someone in the past. And it was a disturbing image. And I knew that this particular "event" has rarely been made into a poem, and I just thought it was about time...
(07/07/01 S.T., Conway, AK)
Question: Matthew, congratulations on poetry being posted to Poetheart. I noticed that your poetry is very self-reflective and that has merit. After doing this for 35+ years, I am glad to see young men like yourself, to honestly project the insight of yourself, rather than wrap it up in "pretty paper". You need to keep on putting down on paper, what you feel is "Your musical harmony" inside your own perception. Let others say what they want, only you know what is going down! I am proud to know you through your poetry and your sense of perception.
Since I have only read your short poetry, are there plans in the future for any lenghtly poetry epics, coming our way via poetheart? Matthew, roughly, how many years have you been creating poetry before you found Jay's site? Good Luck! S.-T.
Matthew: The longest poem that I have written is called "Letter From a Tormented Soul" and it can be found at ShadowPoetry.com. The majority of my poems are short. It has been a long time now that I have been creating poetry. I guess since I was about 12 or 13, somewhere around in there... (for me, that's a long time) :)
(07/08/01 Marie B., Richmond, VA)
Question: I have read and enjoy all of the poems you have on this site. I have looked forward to next Poetheart interview for a long time and at many points tried to figure out who the next interviewed poet would be. You were not on this site a month ago, yet within a short time you have a number of your poems here and are the featured poet. Not that I don't like your work or that you don't deserve it, but my question is how did you manage to do that? And what do you know about how a poet is selected? Thank you.
Matthew: I'm not really sure how it happened. Jay and I had been communicating for a while and it just happened. I know Jay puts a lot of time into the site and works hard on choosing what poems get posted and what poems don't... and I'm sure he does the same with the poet interviews. (Not really sure what method took place) :)
(07/09/01 Bill R., Lowell, MA)
Question: I like your poem "The Prison" and consider it my favorite one of your poems and one of your best. There are some good lines in it and it captures feelings I can really relate to. Can you please tell me why this poem wasn't discussed during the interview?
Matthew: You'd have to ask Jay about that one! :) I don't know. I don't think it was posted at the time the interview was taking place... And I'm glad you enjoyed it. That one really expressing what I was feeling when I wrote it...
*Poetheart comment: Many times the poetry of the featured poet is posted as the interview is ongoing or after the interview is complete (during the Q&A). This one explanation of why a particular poem may not be mentioned during an interview. The interview highlights some of the poetry of the interviewed poet but is not all inclusive. The Q&A is a more appropriate forum to ask specific questions or to make comments about the featured poet's work. Thank you.
(07/09/01 Fran, Tampa, FL)
Question: Congratulations, Matthew. You snagged a coveted spot on this website and joined the ranks of Dona Pearson, Richard Amoroso and ST. Do you think your poetry is really as good as theirs?
Matthew: To be honest, no. I really don't know how my poetry can be compared to theirs! Their poetry is much, much better than mine.
(07/09/01 Carl Bell, Memphis, TN)
Question: Just read the interview and found it interesting that such a young artist was featured. (Happy for you, my man!) A few of your poems impressed me but especially liked the one about the dark poet and what goes on in their mind. Please explain what you mean by a dark poet and are all poets dark or is there another kind of poet?
Matthew: In my mind, a dark poet is a poet that expressing only dark thoughts through their work. Yes, there are other kinds... there are people who expresses good thoughts, peaceful thoughts, etc. etc....For as many poets there are, there are 50 more types of poets!(07/09/01 M.R., Cleveland, OH)
Question: It is good that you use writing poetry as tool to release your feelings and emotions, but I was wondering if you are also using meditation and prayer?
Matthew: I have actually tried meditation, and plan on trying to get more into it later...I pray every now and then.(07/09/01 Don, Silver Spring, MD)
Question: With two of your poems, "The Fall of Salem" and "Swingin' in the South" you managed to break out of your obsession with your sadness and depression and channel your basic feelings into some good creative poems that do not deal with you and your problems as the subjects.These are still "dark" subjects but they are also more interesting to me and demonstrate more creativity. Do you have any plans to write more poems like these? Can you see how these types of poems would have more appeal to your audience?Matthew: Yes, I can see how they would have more appeal to readers. I think they're appealing because they are poems that tell a story. I really can't say that I have "plans" on writing more like them -- I don't really plan my poetry, it just happens.
(07/09/01 Yolanda Malone, Morrisville, PA)
Question: If you write mostly as a release for yourself, why do submit your poetry to the Internet for everyone to see? What do you think you will gain and what do you think others can gain by reading it?
Matthew: I submit my poetry to be posted on the Internet because I am very insecure. When I receive good feedback about the poetry it raises my self-esteem, little by little. I think I'll gain more confidence in writing and I'm really not sure what others will gain by reading them...(07/10/01 Judy F., West Orange, NJ)
Question: Can you tell me if you have ever had or have plans to have your poetry published? Do you ever submit your poems to publishers or entered poetry contests? I am curious since it seems you are ambitious for a young guy.
Matthew: I have had some of my poems published in anthologies by the Iliad Press and the Famous Poets Society -- but the problem with those are you never know if they are actually being read. Even so, I received an Honorable Mention award in 1999 from the Iliad Press for a poem I wrote and in 2000 I received a Famous Poet Award from the Famous Poets Society. I am also having a poem I wrote ("During the Storm") published in a free local Christian publication called The Christian Messenger (which will be out July 18, 2001).(07/10/01 Jason P., Columbus, OH)
Question: Matt, I read all of your poems, both here and at that other website you mentioned (ShadowPoetry.com). I'm 17 y/o also (although I will be 18 this coming November) and live with my Dad since my Mom left us behind a little over two years ago. I have been in therapy for the past year and seem to be making some progress. I have so many issues I'm dealing with such as I feel responsible for my Mom leaving us, not getting along too good with my Dad and my sexual issues. I have started to keep a journal to log my thoughts and feelings and express myself. Including some good poems. My problem is that I have a hard time letting anyone read any of my poems because they are so personal. I am also not real self confident so it's hard to expose my poems to another person's criticism. Can you give me any advice on how I might get over this? I would like others to read my poems but just can't get over the anxiety I feel about letting anyone else read what I write. Thanks.
Matthew: Well, I know the feeling. At first, I didn't want to let anyone read what I wrote either. And I still don't let anyone in "real life" read my poetry... only people on the Internet. I don't think that I could handle standing there as someone read it in front of me! UGHH! I don't want to reccomend "just go for it" as advice, because you may not be ready. I'll just tell you this: After you let someone read it online.. it becomes a little easier day after day. Just take it slow... :) Oh, and thanks for reading my poems!(07/10/01 Carole, New York, NY)
Question: Matthew, your poetry is really good. I absolutely LOVED "Without a Mother" because it was so tender and so profound. I don't think anyone who has lost their mother could resist liking it. The last stanza of this poem is outstanding. I read what you said about it in the interview, but was wondering why you didn't pick this poem as your featured poem, since it is obviously a favorite of all your poems. You even admitted in the interview that it exemplifies your work. It is also the first one of your poems to be put up in this website and the poem verbalizes what seems to be the very root of your sadness and depression. Why did you slight this poem? Thanks, Carole
Matthew: It is one of my best poems, but at the time I felt I could relate more with "Far From Home"... It's hard to pick just one poem.(07/11/01 Ann Marie, Ridgewood, NJ)
Question: Did you realize that the simplicity of your poem "Far From Home" is reminiscent of one of your favorite poets (Emily Dickinson)? Was this intentional? Personally, I feel that sometimes the shorter a poem is, if it is written well, the more it can send a message beyond the words used. As you pointed out, many of your poems are short but that's okay because you convey what you want to without going on and on. Sometimes the longer poems turn me off.
Matthew: I would also rather read a short poem that conveys a message than a long poem that says nothing. I didn't really realize that "Far From Home" was like Dickinson's work - but now that I look at it, it's the same kind of "format". But I'd never compare myself to her -- she was an amazing poet.
(07/12/01 D.B., Newport, RI)
Question: Your interview was interesting. I liked it. You reveal the typical background and the type of personality artists/writers usually have. Why did you agree to do this interview, Matthew? Were you asked or did you volunteer? What comes along with being interviewed on this website? Do you get paid?
Matthew: Okay......Lots of questions......Let me take these questions one at a time. I agreed to do this interview because poetheart.com is an amazing site and for such an offer to be passed up would be a mistake on my part. I was asked. What comes along with being interviewed? Well... you get a lot of people commenting on your work (good and bad). And more people read your poems, I'm sure. There is no money involved at all -- and I wouldn't take any either... well... I may reconsider that ;)(07/12/01 Todd B., Bloomington, IN)
Question: Cool poems and great interview. The dark poet poem was great and so true. Also liked The Fall of Salem - good story line there. Like something from Stephen King. Very creative. If King was a poet he would write something like that. Do you only write poems or do you also write short stories? If you do write stories, what kind do you write? If you don't, why not?Matthew: I do write short stories actually. I have written quite a few that are considered... "horror" I guess... I used to write a lot of short stories that spanned a lot of genres... but lately, I've been focusing more on poetry. I still write bits and pieces of short stories... little horror scenes and whatnot...
(07/13/01 Sarah, Syracuse, NY)
Question: Matthew, I really like your poem "Rainfall" and I was able to totally relate to it. When it rains, I am often pensive and reflective and like to sit at the window in my room. The rain evokes many things in me and I hear it talking to me...A cool sunny day in Fall does the same thing, especially if I can smell fireplaces in the air and if the sun is warm on my face...My question is (other than rainfall) what other things like that talk to you and inspire you and do you write about them? Thank you, Sarah
Matthew: Everything inspires me to write. Roses, snow, trees, wind... everything. There are a lot of great things to write about.(07/14/01 Joe P., Phoenix, AZ)
Question: In your interview that you suffer from an anxiety disorder, feel lonely and depressed, and do not get along well with your father. Certainly all these things have contributed to your creativity and give a "twist" to the negativity of all that. I think it's an accomplishment that you have your poems on this website and that you are this month's featured poet. Are you happy about this? Did you tell your friends and relatives about this? Has your father been to this site to see your poems and read your interview? I am curious.
Matthew: Joe I am very happy that I was chosen to be the featured poet at poetheart.com. I have told some of my family members, but not my father. He doesn't care. He has never been online, so no he hasn't been to the site.
(07/14/01 Captain Greg, Clearwater Beach, FL)
Question: My favorite question and answer in the interview is the one that asks if you were to resolve your problems would you still be able to write poetry and if you thought you'd be able to find some new inspiration for your poems. How about romance? You got a girlfriend? Do you ever write about her and how you feel about her? Captain Greg
Matthew: No, I don't have a girlfriend. I'm not the most attractive guy in the world, so romance is a long time away. I'm sure if I did have a girlfriend (God, you better be listening!), my poetry would be a little different.(07/15/01 Davis, Boston, MA)
Question: Matt, I have read your interview and poems. Since you're a young guy, what inspired you to write "Elderly"? You almost sound like you're an elderly person saying that poem? Thanks. Davis, Boston, MA
Matthew: It's really hard to say what inspires me to write sometimes. I write so many strange things that have nothing to do with who I am... it's almost as if someone else is speaking through me (that sounds a tad scary, huh?).
(07/17/01 Helen S., Keyport, NJ)
Question: Are there any plans to publish your poems? I mean publish a book of your own and not part of one of those "anthologies" that nobody reads. I also remember reading in another question that you write short (horror) stories - How and where can we read these stories?Matthew: I do plan on someday publishing my poems in a book of my own. I don't know when this will happen, but hopefully it will. I don't let many people read my short stories... I wrote them a long time ago and they're very hard to read, bad puncuation, sentence fragments.... they're not worthy of being read right now, anyway.
(07/17/01 JoeG, Columbus, OH)
Question: I liked reading your "The Fall of Salem" and "Swingin'in the South" and think that you were very creative with these. I would like to see more like these two poems. "The Prison" seems very autobiographical and much of your work is that way. My question are these: Do you prefer to write poems as an expression of your own experience or poems that are more out your creativity? Do you see a difference between these two types of writing? If you do, what difference do you see? If you don't, then how are they the same? Thank you. JoeG, Columbus, OHMatthew: I really don't have a preference. I think that the ones from my creativity are more interesting for me... because they tell a story. I think the difference is that the ones that are from my own experience are good for people who can relate, but the ones from my creativity are for anyone who wants a little "story".
(07/19/01 Jason M., Jacksonville, FL)
Question: I liked your choices for your favorite poems (Edgar Allan Poe and Emily Dickinson). "The Raven" is one of my favorites by Poe and I like almost anything by Emily Dickinson. What other poets do you like? And do you have any favorite modern day poets? Thank you. Jason.Matthew: I really can't think of any other poets. I don't read a lot of poetry by any other people. As for modern day poets... I guess I can say poetheart.com's donalou, can't I? :)
(07/20/01 Mira, Reynoldsville, PA)
Question: "Without a Mother" and "To Momma From Son" were beautiful. I was so moved by these poems. Have you ever written any poem about the feelings you have for your father or about how you wish you could have a better relationship with him?Matthew: No, I haven't. I probably will later on when I'm on my own, or after he dies... reminicing on his death... stuff like that, ya know?
(07/20/01 Derek, Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
Question: Matt, Read all your poetry, including the ones on that Shadow Poetry site you mentioned. "What goes on in the mind of a dark poet?" is still my favorite. It was the first one of your poems I read but I think it is also one of your better ones. Do you have any plans to have a site of your own? It would be so cool to see what you would do with your own website. Ever give it any thought? You should consider it. I think that most of the featured poets from this site have their own websites now.Matthew: I have been working on my own website on and off, but have completely given up on it now. From 1998 until early 2000 I was doing a lot of websites.. and it really became a hassle. A good website is A LOT of work! And I just don't have the energy to do it. I'm the type of person who would have to make it "the best site on the net!"... and that's impossible for me right now.
(07/21/01 Rozlyn, Santa Rosa, CA)
Question: My favorite Matthew D. Ward poems are "Swingin' in the South" "The Fall of Salem" and "Without a Mother." I know what inspired the last one, but am very curious about the other two poems. Can you share a few details on what made you write those?Matthew: Past events in history. More like my anger for how people acted years ago... It's hard to believe that people were burnt because people thought they were a witch! I mean... it's so infuriating. The same with the lynchings that took place... and still take place. I can't express how mad that makes me... so many stupid people... It just makes me soooo mad!!! :) Do you agree?
(07/21/01 Jenny, Phoenix, AZ)
Question: Matthew, It seems to me that you are very mature for your age based on your poetry and the way you conduct yourself in the interview amd the questions and answers. Because you are so mature, what do you think of attempting to make the "first move" and try to resolve the problems you have getting along with your Dad? Do you live in the same house? It seems to me that you are both hurt over the loss of your Mom. Has this occurred to you? Have you thought it out other than through your poems?
Matthew: Jenny I have tried to resolve the problems with my Dad for many years now. But he doesn't care -- and doesn't see that there's a problem. My mother died in 1985, and my Dad has had another wife since and so many women in and out of this house. (He was never married to my mother). I have tried to build a relationship with him, but he just pushes me away.(07/24/01 Derek, Islip, Long Island, NY)
Question: You are so cool. I like your poems. "The Fall of Salem" was great. I like stuff like that. Do you have more poems like that one? I would be interested in reading them. Do you think you'll have your own website soon? DerekMatthew: I have written another poem similar to "The Fall of Salem" called "The Next Victim." It's not as good as 'Salem', but they do resemble one another. I have thought of making my own website for my poetry, but I just haven't had the time...
(07/25/01 TD, Providence, RI)
Question: The poems you chose as your favorites were two great poems. That particular Emily Dickinson poem happens to be my personal favorite of all her poems. The Raven is a classic and I like that also. I was wondering why someone who writes poetry and has such favorites as the poems you chose does not read a lot of poetry by other people...I was wondering why? TDMatthew: I really don't know. I have never really been a avid poetry reader... but I do enjoy reading poems when I am in the mood. I really don't have an answer to why I don't read more... but thanks to poetheart.com, I have found myself reading many poems submitted there.
(07/27/01 Mark, Edison, NJ) Question: Hey Matt! I think your poems are great. "Without a Mother" and "The Prison" were very good. It seems that in a short time your association with poetheart.com grew very strong and that you became a "favorite" poet, quite a few poems on the website, featured poet and being interviewed and all, and now I read that you are going to publish your own online poetry magazine...Would you say that the poetheart site has changed/influenced you in any way? If so, in what way? Mark
Matthew: Mark Yes, poetheart.com has influenced me in many ways. For one, I read more poetry now than I used to... My online poetry magazine (The PoetryZine) was also influenced by poetheart.com... poetheart.com resurrected my love for poetry, and my desire to put out another e-zine. I had one a few years back (Nov. 1998-May 1999) that was a Christian based publication.
(07/27/01 Frances, Nashua, NH) Question: "To Momma From Son" and "Without a Mother" really moved me and I felt the pain of your loss from these two poems. Growing up in this world without a mother is unimagineable to me, as my mother was a big part of my life until her passing on last year. I think it's great that you have been able to translate your pain and suffering into such wonderful expression. Do you have any other poems written about your mother? Have you ever tried to write any poems about your father? Your interview was very candid and very revealing. Thank you for being so open to those of us who enjoy your poetry. God bless you, Frances
Matthew: "To Momma From Son" and "Without a Mother" are the only two poems I have written so far about my mother. I have never written a poem about my father -- I can't, actually. I just can't grasp the words to express what I feel... hate, love, fury, confusion, safety, frustration... there are just too many emotions for me to sort through to write a poem. I think maybe in a few years when I get all these recent events behind me, I'll be able to write about how I felt.
(07/28/01 Jay L-, Cape May, NJ)
Question: Are your poems copyrighted before they are put online for the whole world to see? When your poems are posted on poetheart.com, do they remain your property and do you maintain all rights to them? Who is responsible if someone plagiarizes them or uses them without your permission? I am curious as it seems so many poets entrust their work to this website. Jay L-Matthew: Many poets entrust their work to many websites on the Internet. Most sites have notes on them that say the works shown on the site are copyrighted to the original authors. As for someone stealing them -- there's nothing anyone can do... why would someone want to claim something that isn't theirs? Most people with a good conscience wouldn't.
(07/28/01 Gina Ferrara, Brooklyn, NY)
Question: Matthew, I just read your interview again and noticed the announcement that you are starting your own online magazine with a format similar to the one used by this website. Was this "spinoff" your own idea as opposed to someone else encouraging you to do this? I am curious about how all this came about. Can you enlighten us? Gina Ferrara, Brooklyn, NYMatthew: I'm not sure I see The PoetryZine and Poetheart.com as having the same "format"? The PoetryZine is an online e-zine (sent through e-mail) that contains mostly poems by famous authors, but also takes reader submissions... while poetheart.com is mainly focused on user submissions. Poetheart.com did revive my love for poetry, and that is how poetheart.com is related to The PoetryZine.
(07/30/01 Joe P., Seattle, WA)
Question: I have read all your poems and also your interview (in the question and answer part, people asked you everything!). I am impressed that you have begun a new venture creating an online poetry-zine. You seem to be a young version of Poetheart - your poems are deep, thought provoking and you are passionate about certain subjects. You also have a great personality and handled yourself well in both the interview and the questions from the readers. How did you find the whole experience of being this site's featured poet? Did you like the attention you and your poems received? Was it difficult? Was it pleasant? Would you do it again? I am curious what it was like. Joe P.Matthew: I really enjoyed being the featured poet! I can't lie.. I did enjoy the attention -- but who wouldn't? The only thing difficult about it was some questions in the Q&A. It was, all in all, a very good experience, and if I had it to do over again, I would.
(07/31/01 Claudia, Indianapolis, IN)
Question: During the interview and questions, not too much was said about "You Can Hear It" which I liked even as a poem. I know you said you are not a musician but you also said you have a melody in your head that doesn't go away. Is it your own original melody or is it a melody from another song? How will you get to put these words to music? I also want to ask you if you play music while you are writing your poetry? I know you said that you are inspired by music, especially by artists who write their own lyrics. Are you ever afraid that you will inadvertantly take the words of the song into your poems? Thanks.Matthew: It is not a melody from another song, it is original. I don't think I'll ever put the words to music. The melody is in my head, and for now, that's all the matters. I don't play music while writing poetry, it takes my attention from my true feelings. I think anyone who writes will be influenced by music in some way, and will inadvertantly take little pieces of things... I'm not really worried about it, though.
(07/31/01 Barbara, Union, NJ)
Question: Matthew, your poem "Early to Bed" is a very scary one. What exactly is this poem about? Compared to "Without a Mother" which is very tender and also sad and "What goes on in the mind of a dark poet?" which is dark in itself, this poem confuses me. The subjects of your poems are pretty clear but can you help me to understand this one? Barbara.Matthew: It is about a killer waiting in the closet. And if they're early to bed, he will kill them. And if they're late to bed, they'll survive the night. I really don't know if that explained it, but that's all I know to say. :)
To ask a question, email : interview@poetheart.com