Distraction and Poetry by Norma Cole

After I decide to play with the fact of doing an interview, as in “make something up,” I am faced with the notion of  “making up” a piece of work to base the interview on. I did, and it’s called “Distraction.” I then begin to think about that wonderful essay by Robert Creeley, “Was That a Real Poem or Did You Just Make It Up Yourself?” So—is there any distinction between “just making something up” and writing “a real poem”?

NORMA COLE is a poet, painter and translator. WIN THESE POSTERS AND OTHER UNRELATED PRIZES INSIDE is her most recent book of Poetry. Other books of poetry include Natural Light, Where Shadows Will: Selected Poems 1988—2008 and Spinoza in Her Youth.