SOURCE: Nemerov, Howard, and Neal Bowers and Charles L. P. Silet. “An Interview with Howard Nemerov.” Massachusetts Review 22 (spring 1981): 43-57.

In the following transcript of an interview with Nemerov, the poet touches on many aspects of his work.

[Nemerov]: Do you want me to provide answers first?

[Interviewer]: That might be a better way.

I've got a good answer.

Okay.

Yes, theoretically, but in practice it comes up so seldom as to be negligible.

Can you tell us a little bit about how you go about composing poetry? For example, do you write every day? How much do you depend upon inspiration? Do you have a form in mind before you start writing or does that develop as you write the poem?

There are several questions in there. I do not write every day. In fact, except for correspondence, which is fairly extensive, I may not write for...