Robert’s Poetry Blog:
The Migration of Words
Robert’s Meme Blog:
Burdens And Smiles
Q:
Share with us a little about yourself...
Robert:
That’s a hard thing to do because I am always all over the place. I am like the energizer bunny and can't keep still. I am always on the go or coming up with some idea. It drives my fiancé crazy. I currently live in Texas and have a great job as a numbers cruncher. I've traveled the world and still have tons of places I need to go. I write poetry as my release and have always wanted to dabble in writing stories, poetry is shorter though and so its easier for me. I come from a small family and am I about to be married to the most beautiful woman in the world. She takes me as I am and that says a lot. I will try anything everything at least once, except sky diving and eating raw shouldn’t be eaten foods. I guess that’s me in a nut shell? Oh I am classic film buff. I love the silver screen and watch at least 2 new classic movies a week. Ok I will stop now lol. Like I said I am all over the place.
Q:
How did Poets United come about? Please tell us a little bit of your blog and what it means to you.
Robert:
Poets United came about because I was looking for place to share my poetry and read others. I constantly came across either jam packed sites that were very disorganized, Dead Sites or places where the folks in charge where snooty and clickish. I know I don’t write the best poems but I still felt there needed to be a place for me to go, a place to get better without being told I suck. So as I fiddled more and more with blogger the idea developed. At first I was only really thinking about an active blog roll hence the URL for Poets United but then it grew into something ten times better and purposeful. I realized there were a lot of other folks out there beginners, occasional poets, life long poets and everything in between. Its a amazing to see how many talented writers there are out there. I decided to create a corner for them and me. Since I started the site it has been amazing. I have met so many people from all over the globe. Its like I am traveling again. I get to experience there lives through their poetry and best of all we all get to meet new folks every day with the same dreams.
Q:
What does your work with Poets United involve?
Robert:
It’s a labor of love that’s for sure. Even when my own writing suffers because of a lack of creativity Poets United keeps me busy. It started out fairly easy but as my little mind spun I created more and more things to manage and participate in. At one point it was overwhelming and I though to myself what have I done? Lucky for me We have a great community and roughly 8 to 10 folks have stepped up to help make Poets United what it is today. I list them as contributors on the side bar on the site. They are all amazing people. Time wise it went form about an hour a day to sometimes 4 or more. Now I'd say I spend on average about 1.5 to 2 hours a day, roughly 16 to 20 hours a week doing stuff related to Poets United, I dont count the weekends but sometimes it can be all I do lol. Now with the planned anthology it may be more lol. Its a hobby. A cheap hobby that I absolutely love now.
Q:
Do you remember the time you write your first poem? Do you write more than just poetry? What is the favorite poem you have written so far?
Robert:
My own poetry I keep on my blog Burdens and Smile also my meme blog The Migration of Words. As to when I wrote my first poem. It was back in high school to far to remember. I actually have it somewhere and laugh when I read it. It’s something about chickadees jumping up and down and true love. Its a pondering poem. Ah to be so naive lol. I try to write more than poetry. I dabble in flash fiction have started numerous books that I never get past chapter one on and I also have penned a few...show we say R rated romance? It all sits on my computer waiting for my next move. As for my favorite poem I have written so far...I really don’t have one yet. I find them flawed after I read them and then cant stop tearing them apart so I don’t have one I am truly in love with Yet.
Q:
Do you have a favorite poet? Why?
Robert:
Dylan Thomas because he was the first poet I ever realized was a poet. Do not go Gentle was my springboard into the poetry world and his fault. I even posted a poem about with him and Rodney Dangerfield on my Meme site. Its called Rodney Dangerfield Taught me Poetry. Its his recital of Dylan's do not go gentle.
Q:
What are your inspirations? Where do you feel most comfortable to write?
Robert:
Life is my inspiration. Any ones life for that matter. One of my favorite thing is to step outside myself and write as if I where someone else. I enjoy when someone reads a poem of mine and they wow that’s how I felt in that situation. Although I never was truly in the situation myself I love the fact that my imagination got it right. I enjoy being able to step outside myself.
Q:
Great! Do you like music? Who is your favorite musician? Why?
Robert:
Do I like Music? I live for music. It seems to be what drives me day in and day out. I could talk about music for hours. I despise this Bubble gum crud that’s out today. Taylor Swift? That woman cant carry a tune to save her life. I read articles that try to justify how she cant sing but that’s not what music is about. What? Music is not about singing? it drives some mad. Music is suffering right now and the I-pod is killing it. Currently I like for the indie artist the groups that are obscure and talented. I have friends in bands and listen to them all the time. Let see mainstream music I like...Mumford and Son, Flogging Molly and so much more. My favorite Musician is a toss up but I’d have to say Jewel. She can sing in box with nothing else. Folky yes I know but her voice gives me chills. What i wouldn’t give for her to sing just to me.
Q:
What would you say uniquely sets Poets United apart from other poetry
communities?
Robert:
We aren't rude or critical. We are about the community first. We want to foster a place for people to feel comfortable. So what if your poetry is not the greatest. We are not to judge that. The only person who judges is the poet who wrote they are the only ones that truly know what’s being said. What makes Poets United unique is we are a family and so supportive of one another. We are all about what you want. If you want to stop in every so often great!! If you want to participate in every thing we do Great!! We just want to be active and we want our poets to feel comfortable and like they belong. Poets United is unique because of its members and the sense of community they bring with them, our members are always visiting, commenting and communicating .
Q:
Great to know, I always feel comfortable at poets united. Now: Tell me a little about Poets United Writing Prompts?
Robert:
They are now generated by our members. we take suggestions and use them on a weekly basis in our The Thursday Think Tank. Its always so fun to see what people come up with when prompted. We also have The Poetry Pantry on Sundays where its not so much a prompt but a free for all. We all write stuff we want to share and this creates a place for it. It doesn’t matter if it was written yesterday or 12 years ago if you want to share link it there. Again our members are always visiting, commenting and communicating it makes it a fun interaction.
Q:
I always enjoyed Thursday Thinking Tank prompt and Sunday Poetry Pantry…I appreciate the platform you provide for poets.
What advice would you give someone who is interested in hosting a blogging community?
Robert:
Make sure you have the time because it is demanding. Its like a snowball rolling downhill and if you don’t watch out you can get way more than you can handle. If it wasn’t for the folks in my community helping out Poets United could have failed really quick. If you don’t have at least 2 hours a day to dedicate just for maintenance, emails, and whatever else comes up don’t do it. Plan for 15 hours a week to work on stuff. But its even harder in the beginning because you have to figure out what works and set things up. That’s not including any other crazy ideas you come up with. I would recommend volunteering to help, become a co creator or something like that, it will get you in without being overwhelming. I actually may need someone like tah myself but the ocd in me doesn’t know if I can let the design portion go.
Q:
Wow, amazing!
Do you support any causes and if so, which ones and why are they important to you?
Robert:
I actually support quite a few. Me and Fiance do a lot of volunteer work. Our biggest ones are Food Banks, Habitat for Humanity and Children. Anything that helps a child is great we do a few different programs ourselves. The main one I do is Usk8 its a local church program for skaters...the kids who get a hard wrap that are not actually so bad. we set up a weekly skate park in the church for them to get them away form the violence found in most municipal skate parks. Its great way to show them folks care, maybe introduce them a little to god, and see that adults in the community are not all that bad. Its a wonderful program.
Q:
Wow, you and your Finance are quite a pair of blessings to many. Do you enjoy humor? what's your favorite joke?
Robert:
I love humor but don’t have a favorite joke. I know a bunch of dirty ones that cannot be repeated. Lets see how about this
Horse walks into a bar
Site down at the bar
The Barteneder looks over at him and asks
Why the long face bub
HA!! Get it Horse. Long Face? lol I know I’m a dork
Q:
Just for fun, fill in the blanks...
Robert:
Poetry is_
LIFE_.
I love poetry because
It is representation of me and how I live.
Without poetry,
life really sucks for even those who claim to not like poetry_.
Q:
Perfect! Amazing job, Robert!...way to go...We are very honored to present you today!
I wish everyone a wonderful Mother's Day Ahead!
Until next time...
Have A Splendid Week!
Let ME know how you like Poets United If you are a current member there…
Feel free to Explore
Poets United Here:
Poets United
Poets Untied Anthology: Thoughts That Breathe
Collected and Edited by Robert LIoyd.. Poets United is non-Profit, Please feel free to download a FREE copy of the book or purchase a print copy with a flat price via the link below...Thank You!
http://www.lulu.com/product/file-download/poets-united-anthology/14955998
In his own words:
The Poetry Pantry, independent and unaffiliated, is an international poetry anthology published annually or biannually by Poets United, an online poetry blog community. It is run entirely by its community participants under the guidance of its founder Robert Lloyd. The Poetry Pantry features poetry, prose and art submitted and approved by the members of Poets United. Poets United is a community for poets who blog. Our purpose is to unite poets, from all walks of life, who are found in the blogosphere. As the internet expands and along with it the art of poetry, our goal is to provide an active and supportive community for those poets who wish to share and hone their craft. In this anthology you will see just a small sampling of the talent that can be found at Poets United.
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