Though she first started writing poetry when she was 15, Gail Thomas says her writing life became more sustained when she joined a writing group in her 30s and began getting published. The Northampton poet has four collections to her name and has published her work in numerous journals and anthologies; her 2016 collection, “Waving Back,” was named a “Must Read” by the Massachusetts Center for the Book.
Thomas, 67, works as a learning specialist at Smith College, and she’s also led intergenerational arts projects in schools, nursing homes, hospitals and libraries across Massachusetts.
Steve Pfarrer: Describe the work you do.
Gail Thomas: Most of my poems tell stories using direct language rooted in nature and the senses. My new book, “Odd Mercy,” includes a series of poems about the complications of my mother’s dementia and our difficult relationship.
I agonize over line length and line breaks, but when read aloud, a poem may have an emotional impact that the listener and I can share.
S.P.: What is your creative process like?
G.T.: Finding the kernel of a poem often emerges from something random — reading the news, walking in the woods, gardening, talking with strangers or family, listening to music. I keep these ideas in a notebook where they compost until something rises to the surface to create a connection or metaphor.
S.P.: How do you know you’re on the right track?
G.T.: It’s important to clinch the opening and closing lines, to use vivid images and rich sound combinations. I get feedback on new work from a small group of poets I meet with, maybe rework lines, choose more active verbs or a different title. I know a poem works if the reader is drawn into its specific world and feels an emotional response.
To learn more about Gail Thomas’ work, visit: www.gailthomaspoet.com