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Experiences of Grief and Loss
The Dreamer and the Dreamed is an evocative collection of poems that delve into themes of queer love, memory, and self-discovery. You share your personal story with readers in this collection; how hard was it to put this out in the world for people to read?
At the end of the collection I include a Postscript with the poem “Juncture.” The final lines of the poem read: “…And all those keepsake odes,/Their golden locks and keys—/Worn smooth as ancient river/Stones: the hard-earned remains/From the art of a nameless dying.” So in answer to your question: Yes, it was both hard, and a hard-earned completion of poems in the making that I’d been living with for decades. In terms of the personal aspect of many of the poems, my hope (as in the words of the psychotherapist and author Carl Rogers: “What is most personal is most universal.”), is that the stories they tell resonate as universal.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this collection?
The title of the collection: The Dreamer and the Dreamed, a line taken from the centrepiece poem of the “Young Joseph’s Dream” section of the book, in many ways runs through the entirety of the collection as it explores the interaction between dream consciousness and reality-based time & space consciousness.
Many of the poems concern themselves with experiences of grief and loss. I include a poem titled “In Memoriam” which chronicles a springtime experience of coming to terms with my mother’s death. I summarise this experience with the inclusion of these two lines: “The day you mourned her passing/Is the day the world was reborn.” These lines, and what they suggest in the context of the poem and the universal experience of human suffering, share a kinship with this declaration from Rainer Maria Rilke: “Oh, tell us, poet, what do you do/—I praise./ But those dark, deadly, devastating ways, how do bear them, suffer them?/—I praise…” It is significant that my experiences of grief of loss, having found their way into my poetry making, also bring with them a transformative sense of praise.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from your poetry?
I’m going to again reference R. M. Rilke who says a work of art is the product of having gone to the very end of an experience; that it should spring from necessity and be judged by its origins. Borrowing from this insight, I would hope that whomever finds their way to Young Joseph’s Dream gives their experience of my work a favourable judgement.
Can you tell us about the second volume of poems, and when it will be available for fans to purchase?
Poetry making has its own timetable — at times the ground is fertile, at other times, definitely not. That being said, if you go to www.joeleahey.com and check out some of the material in Joe’s Poems, therein lies clues as to what Vol. 2 of The Dreamer and the Dreamed might eventually look like.
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More than an exploration of the passage of time, these poems inhabit the liminal space between reality and the dream world. They consider the ways altered states of mind and dream consciousness influence life and art. Film, popular music, and literary icons infuse these words with rhythm, style, and musicality. They illustrate the ways different forms of expression and lyricism inspire the poet. Readers will recognize the influences C.P. Cavafy, Edna St. Vincent Millay, and James Baldwin, among others.
Poetry lovers will enjoy the breadth of scope in this collection. From astrological phenomena and spirituality to homoeroticism and death, The Dreamer and the Dreamed reveals the complicated experiences of existence.
The Dreamer and the Dreamed: Collected Poems of Joseph Leahey Vol 1
The Dreamer and the Dreamed, by Joseph Leahey, is an evocative collection of poems that delve into themes of queer love, memory, and self-discovery. Spanning decades from the 1980s through 2020, these poems offer glimpses into personal and global moments, including the profound impacts of the pandemic. Leahey’s poetry is deeply personal and reflective, presenting love and identity in a way that resonates with a wide audience.
The contemporary, intimate genre explores universal themes of love, life, and death, weaving them into a tapestry that speaks directly to the reader’s heart. A central focus of the collection is on queer love and the complexities of heartbreak. Leahey shares raw and emotional narratives about relationships, struggles, and the joys and pains experienced within the queer community. His use of clear and vivid language to express love, self-acceptance, and the yearning for connection renders the collection both touching and accessible.
The Dreamer and the Dreamed offers a heartfelt exploration of the poet’s journey through life and his search for love and meaning. It captures the essence of the universal human experience, appealing to anyone who has ever sought to understand themselves and the world around them. The collection takes readers on a beautiful journey through the peaks and valleys of love, encapsulating what it means to be deeply human and to love with intensity. The poems are crafted with a lyrical quality that often feels cinematic, akin to a film’s opening scene or the chorus of a song. Standout pieces like “Lover Boy,” which explores themes of loneliness and hopelessness among mere acquaintances, and “The Prayer Mat,” touching on grief, distress, and longing, are particularly moving. “Strange Boy” vividly captures a fleeting, yet powerful, interaction, with emotions almost bursting from the brief verses. Leahey excels at conveying the intense emotions and deep yearnings within his poems. While some pieces may not resonate equally with all readers due to stylistic differences, the collection as a whole reflects the poet’s profound emotional experience. The inclusion of titles referencing songs from the 1960s adds a nostalgic layer, enriching the reading experience and making the collection more profound.
Reminiscent of the work of Richard Siken, another queer poet exploring love and longing, The Dreamer and the Dreamed captures the essence of the human experience, making it a compelling and memorable read.
Pages: 130 | ASIN : B0CS96SWQS
LITERARY TITAN 