Periodically on Poetry Pop, we enjoy a Guest Pop where a guest poet pops in for a visit. I’d like to welcome, the very talented Matthew Johnson to the blog today. I had the pleasure of interviewing Matthew and am excited to introduce him and share some of the poetry from his new book, Far from New York State with you!

BOOK review:

In the book “Far from New York State,” poet Matthew Johnson leads us on a journey through his cherished state, exploring modern events and those spanning centuries. He is a master of his craft, “Summertime is the season / When hot lips not only scorch trumpets, / But can melt cones of ice cream.” Each poem offers insights into historical figures, sports, relationships, literature, music, and humor. And, with grace and elegance, Matthew also addresses intricate topics like racism and death. This collection presents readers with diverse thought-provoking poems that capture the beauty and rawness of mind and spirit. —Danna Smith, author and poet

interview with MATTHEW JOHNSON

Danna: Welcome, Matthew! First, tell us a bit about yourself, personally and professionally.

Matthew: – I am a poet, editor, author, and literary magazine publisher. I am originally from New Rochelle, New York, and spent most of my childhood in Stratford, Connecticut. I now live in Greensboro, North Carolina, and having moved around a bit and lived in some very distinct places up and down the East Coast, the idea of regionalism and place are topics I explore a lot in my writing. I also write about topics in sports, race, and nature, too, and work at two magazines, the baseball-themed, The Twin Bill, and the regional-based magazine, The Portrait of New England.

Danna: You seem to take a magnifying glass to the history of events, focusing on the event and narrowing the subject further to one smaller or unique moment. For example, in the poem L.T. After Super Bowl XXI, the focus is not on the Super Bowl but on the difficulties faced by Lawrence Taylor post-game. When choosing which aspect of an event to magnify in a poem, how do you determine the specific part to highlight?

Matthew: – That’s a good question, Danna. When writing about a historical event, subject, or piece of art, like a painting, song, book, or artist/athlete, I pay close attention to the thoughts that come to mind when I first examine these topics. As I reflect on these ideas, certain angles rise to the surface, and I try to explore these points. I find something that resonates with me regarding that subject, and I want to get that point and idea across to readers. In the poem you reference, “L.T. After Super Bowl XXI,” I wanted to convey a story, in poetic form and structure, of a talented but troubled individual who brought joy to many, but also, great sadness and pain to others, including himself. With each of these types of poems, I am seeking the means that creates the greatest narrative impact for the reader, which is through tools like tone, diction, and structure.

Danna: There are several poems on Jazz in this collection. In your poem, Gin-Soaked Saxophone Solo, you write, “It was death by music, and gin and jazz were heaven.” Like writing, music is another form of self-expression. The lyrics are the poetry; the music is the cadence. How does music affect your life and love of writing?

Matthew: – Music is one of the main reasons why I got into poetry, and thank you very much for your thoughts on, “Gin-Soaked Saxophone.” Music is an influence on much of writing. When I write, I often find myself attuned to the rhythms of the language and sound of the songs, and those are elements that I try to emulate in my writing. It’s a tool that helps to stimulate ideas and imagination, and it helps to create a conducive space for inspiration and mood. With my jazz poems, for example in, Far from New York State, (“Gin-Soaked Saxophone Solo,” “Idyllic Jazz Picnic,” and “Jazzman Plays the Songbook,” among others), I try to model the expression and atmosphere of the jazz genre.

Danna:  Poetry makes one think more profoundly and gives a different perspective on life. Your poem, Prison Meal Dream, especially moved me. Your use of simile and metaphor is beautiful. What or who inspired you to write this particular poem?

Prison Meal Dream

The full moon is hung up like butcher shop specials, and I want one.
I would hopscotch atop the stars,
Like I was avoiding construction cones, or a packed sidewalk,
And enter the meat market to get me one of those deals.
I would examine the rib racks and the lamb shanks,
And I would place my arm on the counter,
Drumming on the block to get the attention of the clerk,
And then get something familiar, like steak or hamburgers.
But the moon is not made up of meat or cheese, but rocks,
Like the ones I strum and kick up on the yard….

©Matthew Johnson, Far from New York State, 2023. All rights reserved

Matthew: – Thank you again for your thoughts, Danna. With “Prison Mean Dream,” I was thinking about the number of stories I have read and heard, both in fiction and nonfiction, of prisoners, especially nonviolent offenders, struggling when they are in jails, and also being unable to connect with others once they are back in general society. Several poems center on topics of prison and rehabilitation in Far from New York State, and I also drew from experiences of family, friends, and friends of friends I have known and come in contact with. There is a poem a few pages later, “Prison Meal Dream,” that focuses on the Central Park Five, and I feel like that specific tragedy was a heavy influence when exploring these poems, and the idea of empathy and forgiveness, which draw on my faith as a Christian.

Danna: In your poem, On Washington Irving and his Literary Friends at Sunnyside, you write, “…if I could attend this master class lecture, my mere presence would very much startle everyone.” If you could go back in time and be directly involved in the history depicted in just one of your poems in this book, which poem would you choose and why?

Matthew: – I like that question, too! I feel like I would want to explore a time that occurred before the mid-’90s, as those would mostly be poems and subjects I would have directly experienced, and I would be curious to occupy another space and time. I would be very curious to explore the writers and artists of the Harlem Renaissance who are some of my greatest influences and are subjects in my collection. However, given the harsh enforcement of racism, segregation, and violence at that time in America, I would likely avoid that time, too. I may select, “A Prescription from Dr. J,” which primarily takes place in the ‘70s. Before Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James, there was Julius Erving, nicknamed, Dr. J, in terms of high-flyers who played above the rim in basketball, and I always wanted to see him in his heyday. From his Rucker Park games in Harlem to the 1977 NBA Finals between his Philadelphia 76ers and the Portland Trail Blazers, who were led by the recently passed, Bill Walton (who was another player I would be very much seeing in his prime), that would be the era and time I would be most interested in choosing.

Danna: What’s next? Do you have any new books in the works?

Matthew: Oh, I have a chapbook about to go on presale in a few weeks through Finishing Lines Press. The title of the collection is, Too Short to Box with God, and it’s a boxing-themed collection that, like most of my sports poems, explores the sport and athletes in a manner that examines their abilities at their games but also explores broader themes outside of the lens of athletics. Some of the themes and ideas include boxing in literature and film, when sports mix with politics and race, and the history of the sport. I am also doing work with the two literary magazines I am a part of, whose new issues are set to be released within the next few weeks. I am also doing my own writing and editing and working on several poetry manuscripts.

Danna: Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences, perspectives and beautiful poetry with us today on Poetry Pop!

Matthew Johnson is the author of the poetry collections, Shadow Folks and Soul Songs (Kelsay Books), Far from New York State (New York Quarterly Press), and a forthcoming chapbook through Finishing Line Press. His work has appeared in Front Porch Review, London Magazine, Maudlin House, Roanoke Review, South Florida Poetry Journal, and elsewhere. Recipient of Best of the Net and Pushcart Prize nominations, he’s the managing editor of The Portrait of New England and poetry editor of The Twin Bill. Find out more about Matthew and his poetry on his website: www.matthewjohnsonpoetry.com

GET YOUR COPY OF “Far from new york state“

tHANKS FOR POPPING IN

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