Name :

Gary Jurechka

Gender :

Male

Age :

43

Country :

USA, Illinois

Registered :

2005-09-11

Last visit :

2010-02-08

Poems :

424

Rating :

4.7 / 2785

Forum posts :

313

Awards :

( F P C D )

Profile :

I do not write my poems, I live
them.
***********************************
* (Note:The above photo is an
older one-I no longer have the
beard or long hair(or as much hair,
for that matter!)Also, I would
appreciate more comments on my
earlier posted poems, as they are
my better works as opposed to the
more recent postings(though a few
of them aren't
bad)*******************************
***** I was born on July 15, 1964
and have lived my whole life in a
small northern Illinois city where
I grew up in the rough/poor west
end section, which we took pride in
as kids,was an only child(the
library was an early and constant
companion),I have been writing
poetry and fiction since
childhood.The poems began as
teenage lyrics for our rock band
that never took off.Later they
became a way to release some of the
emotion that seemed to burn
unbearably inside me.It became
cathartic, a type of therapy, and a
creative outlet.As this area is
pretty much a literary wasteland I
was not exposed to much poetry
outside the basics(Poe, Sandburg,
Frost), later I was more influenced
by the singers/songwriters of
various bands-Michael Stipe of
R.E.M., Bob Dylan, Jim Morrison of
the Doors, Simon & Garfunkel,
Trent Reznor of NIN,Fish of the
band Marillion(incredible lyrics on
the first four albums!),Leonard
Cohen, and a few others. I wrote
mainly for myself, with dreams of
being a published writer,but kept
stuff pretty much private until my
girlfriend at that time read some
and encouraged me to submit to the
magazines.It had never occurred to
me to submit them for publication,
much less realize there was even a
market out there.I write because I
cannot NOT write.After some trial
and error I stumbled into the Small
Press world and was warmly
embraced.The small presses are
truly wonderful-the people you
meet(editors/publishers/poets), the
experiences, the exposure. So then
throughout the 1990's I was a
popular and widely published poet
in the small presses.In a zine
interview a few years back I was
asked about my 'style'-I replied
'my style was to have no style', I
write primarily free verse as I
find it more open to image (and
more freedom in general), I've
writtin haiku, pantoums,
villanelles, rondeaus,lyrical,
experimental, a modified version of
'found' poetry, etc.Though I have
quite a few rhyming pieces, I
generally try to avoid rhyme for
the mere fact it is hard to write a
good rhyming poem-so many
rhymes/words/subjects are trite and
cliched.I found most editors also
avoid rhyme unless it is truly
outstanding.There are exceptions to
everything however.I don't always
set out to write a particular type
of poem--usually the poem itself
dictates the form I use.I enjoy
trying new styles/approaches.It's
always good practice to try
different forms/styles rather than
get locked into one style, this
also reveals one's strengths and
weaknesses.
*********************************
*** Writing credits:Have had
hundreds of pieces published in the
small press literary magazines,,
won a few awards/contests, have
been published in every state and 4
countries.Have had 4 chapbooks
published (the most recent being
1999's CLOUDS LOOK DIFFERENT AT
NIGHT by BoneWorld Publishing).Also
did a few readings at coffeehouses
and bookstores(Barnes & Nobles,
Walden Books, etc.) and other
places. From 1995-1999, ran my own
modest venture, Lone Wolf
Publications, serving as
editor/publisher for it's 'zine,
The Web, a journal of poetry &
art, and as co-editor for it's
sister publication, The Rolling
Paper
Review. **************************
********** I had been on hiatus
(more or less) for awhile (became
somewhat of a recluse and suffered
a horrid bout of writer's block for
about 5 years, 2000-2005) and am
attempting a 'comeback' of
sorts(and trying to break free of
the image I became-the
tragic/romantic/loner/melancholy/dr
eamer poet which helped colour my
best work but also included bouts
of self-destruction and not a
lifestyle to maintain by any
means).I am sensitive,caring,
understanding, laid back, have a
great sense of humor(I love to make
others laugh), though no saint, I
like to think I'm basically a good
person.*********** Besides
writing, I love reading, LOVE music
of all kinds (and I do mean all
kinds- Monkees, Doors, Vince
Guaraldi, Shakira, Nine Inch Nails,
Snow Patrol, Rippingtons, Fuel,
Beatles, King's X, etc. Rock, Pop,
Jazz, New age, alternative,
industrial, movie soundtracks,
Heavy Metal, etc.) Also a movie/dvd
fan (some faves-Memento, Platoon,
Brotherhood Of The Wolf, My Big Fat
Independent Movie, Reservoir Dogs,
Snatch, 84 Charlie MoPic, -so many
others!) I love playing chess,enjoy
going to parks,like going to the
occassional rock or jazz concert,
hopping into the car and taking
road cruises to nowhere, enjoy a
quiet night at home, also going to
coffeehouses/poetry readings,and
absolutely love storms and the
quiet calm before one hits(when you
can just feel it coming in the
stillness and exhilaration of the
air),also have interests/like
eastern & western & native
american
philosophies/sprituality,pop
culture trivia,
lighthouses,incense,
wolves,storms,the moon, candles,
jesters,the stars, fractals,clouds,
scarecrows,nature,collecting
autographs(& other
stuff).************* Too many
people get caught up in the act of
living to be truly alive;struggling
to survive in our society(a
society/culture that dictates
lifestyle and that clouds our
hearts and vision to the things
that really matter),that they stop
seeing and appreciating what I like
to call the world behind things-the
everyday things we become so used
to or forget to notice(stars, wind,
trees, love, the sky,animals,
others around us, the beauty and
emotions things evoke to make us
feel alive, to see the world and
this life in all the wonder and awe
we did as children etc.).Never take
anything for granted.Anything. I
have a grown daughter(Erika-23) and
I am single and live alone, though
I share an apartment with a large
orange cat and many many books, cds
& dvds. I have always hoped
to find that special someone
(soulmate) with a heart to match
the capacity of passion in my own
heart. Someone who saw the world in
much the same way I do, who has
similiar tastes, thoughts,
feelings, yet is her own unique
person, someone whom I can grow
with in love and life (It's either
that or just get old and
bitter.Just kidding). I try to
live life the best I can and
continue to grow (yet retain a
sense of innocence and wonder of
the inner child) and learn and seek
to attain serenity, happiness,
wisdom, contentedness and love...to
be
alive. ***************************
****** Thanks for checking out
my work.All comments
appreciated.(Especially the older
poems (which I consider my best
work, with a few exceptions) not
just the most recent ones-thanks!)
Note:I am attempting to compile
a 'Best Of' collection so I'd
appreciate your taking the time to
vote and comment as this will help
decide which poems to use in the
collection.Thanks. I appreciate the
votes but would rather have more
comments-what the reader likes or
don't like, what works what don't,
comments on image, structure,
content, etc.More in-depth
feedback.This would be much
appreciated. Also I have been
contacted by various members for
advice and critiques, I am happy to
offer what ever advice, technical
or personal, discuss basics,
markets,writing techniques, etc.
I'm always willing to help those
starting out(or discuss with those
already established poets) as I had
to learn things the slow hard way!
So feel free to contact me.
*********************************
*** For anyone interested I have
a topic in the discussion forumn
with contributions from many
notable P&Q members, regarding
writing habits, definitions of
forms and styles, exercises, poetry
submission markets for getting
published, tips on writer's block
and much more- it's lengthy but
there is a wealth of information
there. It is now locked but can
still be read/accessed. It's titled
NOTES ON WRITING POETRY at
http://www.poems-and-quotes.com/dis
cussion/topic.html?topic_id=56674.
Also there is a continuation of
this post called NOTES ON WRITING
POETRY-Part II at
http://www.poems-and-quotes.com/dis
cussion/topic.html?topic_id=86274
******************** And
lastly, I would like to add there
are some truly talented and amazing
poets/poetry on this site and I am
honored to be in their company(and
have learned much from some of
them) and have been touched by not
only the poems but the people
behind them. Thank you. Peace,
Poetry & Power!

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