International Falls native discusses his love of writing poetry
Douglas Skrief has been interested in the written word since he was a child, and started writing plays and poetry as a young man.
It was while he was attending Oxford University that he “seriously started thinking about poetry.”
“Poems reflect experience,” the International Falls native explained. “Poems allow the writer to share feelings through language and poems help find a voice that makes you unique.”
In 2009, Skrief released his first published book of poetry, “Stone Poems.”
The book is a collection of poems about the experiences of a Rainy Lake boulder — a landmark near the waterfront cottage that has been in Skrief’s family for generations.
In the poems, Skrief gives voice to the rock, which tells a fictional tale of its existence to a person called “Word-Giver,” the author himself.
“I grew up with the stone,” Skrief said.
Even though the poet was so familiar with the stone he had been around his entire life, he admitted it was a challenge to find a voice for it.
He explained that the story took his entire life to write, however, it was a 2006 McKnight/Arrowhead Regional Arts Council Individual Fellowship grant which he said provided him time to concentrate on this collection and complete the book.
Aside from publishing “Stone Poems,” Skrief has accomplished several items on his “bucket list of being a poet.”
Goals he has so far crossed off his list include: his poetry was published in the “Paris Review;” one of his poems was set to music by a Texas composer; he read a poem out loud on BBC Radio; he published his first book in London; and one of his poems was selected for Poem of the Week by the Guardian Newspaper in Britain.
Skrief also hopes to publish a collection of children’s poems he has written.
The poet noted that when he fulfills a goal he has set for himself as a writer, it is a “confirmation that I’m not wasting my time and it is more than just a hobby.”
Skrief attributes his talent in writing poetry to his ability to “work a poem
to perfection.”
“A poem becomes a document of a time of writing,” he said. “A poem is a memory. I might grow, but I might still be able to get something out of (a poem) as a changed writer.”
Skrief’s motivation for his writing comes most after reading other poetry, he said.
He added that he has also had several people influence his work.
“I am very fortunate to have mentors in England,” he said. “I travel (to England) frequently to visit this circle of literacy friends. I have been blessed with a happy series of meetings in my life. I couldn’t have done anything on my list without meeting some of the people I have.”
