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Author Statement
Serpent’s Lap is an exploration of rituals. Each poem is a kind of spell conjured by introspection and transformation. Journeying through these concepts using generational storytelling, examination of the shadow self, and honesty in memory, I work to honor the cyclical nature of change that belongs to each one of us.
3 Questions
Matthew Porubsky
INK: What most inspires you to write?
MP: For this group of poems, it was music and photography. Daniel W. Coburn’s photo collection Becoming a Specter was a huge inspiration. Lyrics from songs by Flower Face and Lord Huron were circling in my mind, as well. All these artists have a remarkable talent for creating beautiful imagery with dark undercurrents.
INK: What does your writing routine look like?
MP: It has a lot to do with how life aligns. My writing tends to occur less habitually and more occasionally. I consider the creation of poems, from conception to editing, to be like a meditation, chance moments when I can tap into a stream of connection. I do make a practice of daydreaming, but those don’t always get written down.
INK: Name a favorite poem you feel everyone should read.
MP: My newest favorite poem is “exhibits from The American Water Museum” by Natalie Diaz. I feel like my most important job as a writer is to listen. Diaz’s poem makes me feel like a listener far more than a reader. And it tells a story that has been forcibly disavowed for so, so long. Everyone needs to experience that poem.
