August 2023

Curt Vevang is a Chicago native and a product of the Chicago Public Schools and the University of Illinois. Who is he? 

I am not a typical poet and because of that I feel that I need a slightly different introduction. I’ll explain. Recently one of my daughters knitted a bevy of gnomes. 

Upon seeing them I couldn’t contain my poetic urge but to draft a poem.
This poem will probably cause me to lose my poetic license but it describes well the kind poet I am.

Four homeless gnomes knocked on my door.
I’d never seen these blokes before.

Each was dressed in bright regalia,
cutest guys, I mean to tellya.

I asked them if they were brothers.
Couldn’t be, we have no mothers.

No lineage? And thus no name?
Well tell me then, from whence you came.

They replied from yon and hither.
Looks to me your Mom’s a knitter.

What triggered your interest in creating poems? 

I feel I have a creative and inquisitive mind and writing poetry became a happy pastime. Friends and family were most generous in their praise of my poems and were always looking for the next poem, which inspired me to continue writing them. 

Who are your favorite poets?

When I'm not near the poet I love, I love the poet I’m near.  

What inspires you? Other poets, painting? Music? 

I find that I am inspired to write poems about both animals and people in need. I guess I like telling the story of the underdog. 

I would like to mention that I email one of my many poems monthly to 180 or so folks on my mailing list. If you would like to be included (no charge) let me know at curt@curtvevang.com

Where have you published?

I have published poems in many of the ISPS annual anthologies as well as in the NFSPS ENCORE anthologies of Prize Poems of 2019 and 2020. 

I have also published six books that are available on Amazon. Two of the books are children's books (The Prince and the Elf and The Prince and the Elf Too) which were illustrated entirely by Fourth Graders at a local grade school.

The other four books are a compilation of the many poems that I have written over the years. These include in order of publication: a scant bagatelle, the nature of things, poetry as we like it and poetry of the engineer.

Are you in a feedback group that meets regularly? If so, how often?

Yes, I participate in several workshops. Feedback groups have been instrumental in my writing and rewriting poetry. We meet monthly, quarterly, and on an as required basis, which seems to become more frequent as the years pass.

We know every poem is different but–on average–how many revisions does one of your published poems require?

Rewriting my poetry is the segment of poetry that I enjoy the most. Rewriting and finding a better word or rephrasing a couplet makes writing more enjoyable.

Do you gear some of your work toward performance poetry rather than the written form? Why or why not?

No because I feel that performance poetry is in class by itself and is ideally suited for other people, not me.

How long might you struggle with a poem that doesn’t seem to want to come together?

If I am having a good time struggling with a poem I have no time limit. If I don’t like the poem it goes to the trash immediately.

Is there a special person in your life you’re inclined to share your work with? Explain.

After 58 years of marriage I find that I share all of my poetry with my wife, Susan.