When We Start Seeing Birches
by Kenneth Pobo
Forty miles ago we ate eggs
and talked about kitchen cleaners.
As more and more birches
come into view, we grow
silent. A little like being in a library
where pages turn quietly. We travel
for miles saying nothing. Yet
we’ve been talking
and talking.
Kenneth Pobo has a new book out from Duck Lake Books called Dindi Expecting Snow. Forthcoming from the Poetry Society of Alabama is his chapbook called Your Place Or Mine. He teaches English and creative writing at Widener University.
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What surprising, fascinating stuff can you tell us about the origin, drafting, and/or final version of “When We Start Seeing Birches”? Birches are probably my favorite tree. I’ve written about them before (or they appear in other poems). The initial drafts of the poem were gassy. Much of the poem was a big burp. It took a lot of revision to whittle the poem to its essence. This summer I read Robert Bly’s book of poems called Like The New Moon, I Will Live My Life. Some of his poems in there are nicely focused, plain spoken yet working on an image that invites contemplation. I used that book to help in my revision thinking about “When We Start Seeing Birches.” My husband and I go to Wisconsin every year. The “Northwoods” really begins when birches begin to appear as we drive north. It marks a change, a welcome change. We wait for and anticipate that change.
Check out the write-up of the journal in The Writer.
Matter Press recently released titles from Meg Boscov, Abby Frucht, Robert McBrearty, Tori Bond, Kathy Fish, and Christopher Allen. Click here.
Matter Press is now offering private flash fiction workshops and critiques of flash fiction collections here.
Submissions
Poetry, creative nonfiction, and fiction/prose poetry submissions are now closed. The reading period for standard submissions opens again September 15, 2025. Submit here.
Upcoming
12/15 • Isabelle Ness
12/22 • Catherine Bai
12/29 • Stephan Viau
01/05 • Allison Blevins
01/12 • Justin Ocelot
01/19 • Yejun Chun
01/26 • Mathieu Parsy
02/02 • Robert McBrearty
02/09 • Sarah Daly
02/16 • Wayne Lee
02/23 • Terena Elizabeth Bell
03/02 • Michael Mirolla
03/09 • Nicholas Claro
03/16 • TBD
03/23 • TBD
03/30 • TBD