Robert Swanson and his new collection, “Poems from the Road”

Poet Robert Swanson talks about his new collection, Poems from the Road: Laments of a Truck Driver.

My book, Poems from the Road: Laments of a Truck Driver is a collection of poems in an eclectic style.  I have never chosen my poems or what they may convey.  I simply set back and let them write themselves.  My poems in this book range from macabre to love lost.  From humorous to serious.  Most of the time I don’t have a clue what the poem is going to be about until I have written it down.  The only time I know what the poem is going to be about is if it contains something I’m very passionate about and I’m writing for that specific purpose.  Such as animal abuse.

My name is Robert Swanson.  I was born in Dalton, GA in 1960.  My parents moved quite often so I lived in Georgia, Tennessee, Texas, and finally Colorado.  I didn’t care for school at all.  Most everything taught was boring in the extreme and the teachers were more like robots replaying a worn out program over and over again.  Like the late, great Carl Sagan said, “I never had a teacher help me or motivate me”.  So, I dropped out my senior year and got a G.E.D.  From time to time I went to college, but never had a clue what I wanted to do.  I ended up with a year and a half of college credit.

During my early years I worked minimum wage jobs like grocery clerk, security guard, etc..  Then, at twenty seven I joined the United States Army and became a M1A3 “Tanker”.  I loved driving huge vehicles and being in a combat unit.  Well, it didn’t last very long because I was also wrestling in the Army and I blew out my right knee in a wrestling match.  So, I left the Army and went back to nowhere jobs.  Then, I found truck driving and my love of driving huge vehicles rekindled.  I ended up driving almost twenty years, hauling mail, in the Great Rocky Mountains.  Through blizzards and ice and all kinds of terrible weather.  But, I loved it and for the first time in my life actually made good money.

When I was fifty-six I decided I wanted to make music.  I had always loved music and still listen to it twenty-four hours a day.  But, I didn’t have a clue how to write or compose music so I decided to try doing the opposite.  I would right the lyrics then, add the music.  I had been reading about Jim Morrison and The Doors and that’s how their music had evolved.  I began writing poetry at that time.  I had never written a poem in my life.  I thought poetry was for wimps and whiners.  Then, I started writing while driving down the long lonely highway between Denver, CO and Albuquerque, NM.  That ended up being my route for eleven years.

I found it very relaxing while driving in the middle of nowhere so it was very easy to write and find motivation for writing during my travel.  My writing exploded.  I was writing two or three poems a day while I was driving.  I didn’t write at home.  Just on the road in my solitude.  I didn’t try to write.  I would just feel like writing and the next thing I knew my “ID” or subconscious would provide me with a phrase or line or idea for the poem.  I would take whatever my mind had provided and start writing.  I made it a point not to try to write.  I simply let the words flow.

I never studied any books on writing poetry for two reasons.  One, was I had studied books on writing music and other subjects and had only dug myself into a mental quagmire trying to be what someone else was or how they thought it should be done. Two, I wanted my poetry to be from my heart and mind.  I didn’t want to know or use any system except mine.  To me that’s what is so great about poetry.  You can do what you want.  The only rule is that what you write is poetic in sound and feeling.  Not AABB ABAB and so on.  I wanted my writing to be natural.

I fell in love with poetry by accident.  It started as a way to make music, but ended up as a way for me to express my many feelings and thoughts.  I have always wanted to share my poetry with others.  Not for adulation, fame, or even money.  I want my poetry to express my feelings, help others who might need someone, or just let someone know they’re not alone in their thoughts and feelings.

As for other writers I would say be yourself.  Don’t try to be Stephen King or Edgar Allan Poe.  The world doesn’t want clones.  The world wants fresh and honest.  You can’t get that when you are trying to be someone else. And, don’t try so hard.  Just let your “ID” have a clear channel to you and then to the paper.  You’ll be amazed what will come out of you.

Finally, working with iUniverse has been an interesting adventure.  This is my first book so I didn’t know what to expect but iUniverse has done a very good job taking my vision and turning it into reality.  But, nothing is free.  So, be ready to spend as much money as you can or wish to.  Of course the more you spend the more chance of success your book will have.  You are the only one who can answer that question.  I personally decided how much I could spend and that was it.  But, I’m not into writing my poetry for money.  Everyone has different goals.  Best of luck to everyone.

Make sure to check out the iUniverse site for more advice and blogs, as well as iUniverse Facebook and iUniverse Twitter. For a FREE Publishing Guide, click here!