Interview with John Grey
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John Grey is an Australian poet, US resident, recently published in Shift, River And South and Flights. Latest books, “Bittersweet”, “Subject Matters” and “Between Two Fires” are available through Amazon. Work upcoming in Levitate, Writer’s Block and Trampoline.
​How do you see your poems connect to the larger patterns or styles you explore in your poetry and writing?
Themes, patterns, styles etc. are not something I think about. At least, not while I’m writing. Perhaps, in retrospect. Often, I leave all that to the reader. But there are certain threads that run through my work like personal relationships, family, social issues and nature. But I also write genre poetry so I’ve had stuff published on every subject from vampires to robots.
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What's one question about poetry you've been wanting to ask others?
I’ve always wondered why people actually get involved in creating poetry magazines, whether on paper or online. I’ve been involved in poetry for many years but starting up my own zine is the last thing I would ever want to do.
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What's something you want to write about or on your writing "to-do" list?
My “to-do” list would just say, just keep doing what you do already only try to do it better. I think I’ve covered every subject at least once in my poetry. So I have to be on the watch for something. One thing I find I keep coming back to the immigrant situation in this country, especially as I am an immigrant myself. I have written a few poems on that subject in recent weeks and I expect I will write more.
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If you were to create a 2025 Writing Wrapped, inspired by Spotify Wrapped, what is one thing you would definitely see there?
My Writing Wrapped would tell me that I spent a lot of time reading obscure works by obscure public domain authors on my Kindle, read a lot of English Music Magazines, Sports books and the poetry that shows up in my mailbox when I receive a contributor’s copy from some magazine or other.
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What's something you like to do outside of writing that inspires your writing?
Immersing myself in the arts in general inspires my writing. That could involve painting and a visit to a gallery. Or music and spending time with my stereo. And reading of course but not necessarily dipping into poetry books. I find everything from the morning newspaper to a favorite novel can trigger something in my imagination wgich, in turn, can lead to a poem.