The Mad Poets Blog

 Mel Brake was raised in Philadelphia, PA. He graduated with a B.S. degree from West Chester University. He has written poetry as a method of healing, self love and to express his inner thoughts and feelings.  He was a guest speaker on The October Gallery Radio Show, WHAT 1340 AM discussing and reading his work.  He was the featured poet with Live Poets Society of Media, PA. , Mad Poets Society of Media, PA and Poet and Prophets of Swarthmore, PA  Recently, he was featured poet at Robin’s Book Store by Philadelphia Poets. Some of his works appear in the current issue of Philadelphia Poets Journal, Mad Poets Review Fall 2007 and Writing Outside the Lines Winter 2007. This coming Spring 2008, he will be featured at the Manayunk Art Center Philadelphia, PA.

The Interview:

Q. You have the title Poet Laureate. Tell us of the experience and duties of the Poet Laureate.  

I would hope that when and if Delaware County has a program for Poet Laureate that it would be a great opportunity to showcase the wonderful local talent in the area. Both Bucks and Montgomery Counties have a Poet Laureate program and why not Delaware County. I chose to honor myself with the title of Poet Laureate with the same boldness as Neil Armstrong claimed rights to the moon.  Besides my sister-in-law thought it was a good idea. I guess you can say that I am forward thinking.

Q. What drew you to poetry as a form of expression?

I would say love. I feel there is no better way for me to express love for myself and others than through poetry. For many years, I was on a personal quest to find myself and odyssey if you will. Growing up, I watched epic movies which depicted the main character who would climb the tops of mountains or take a long journey in foreign lands for self discovery or to profess his or her love for someone else. For me, poetry is that inner journey where I can find myself and find love.

Q. You have recently had work accepted for publication at a number of magazines. Many poets find the submission process to literary magazines to be difficult. What has your experience with having your work accepted?

I am very happy that Mad Poets Review, Philadelphia Poets and others have accepted my work for publication.  The experience for me is like when I was a child and I would hope that Santa Claus brought me everything I wanted, even though I knew that my mom was really acting like Santa Claus. The anticipation and the desire can be a challenge because I want all my works to be published, but realistically as one editor said to me in a rejection letter, “it’s all relative”. No one likes rejection but it’s a matter of finding the right editor who sees merits in ones poetry. Recently, I went to an open mic in
New York City and after reading a few poems this editor on the spot said I want to publish your poems. Like Tony the Tiger would say, it feels GREAT to have ones poetry accepted for publication.

Q. Over the past year you have read your work at a cross section of poetry venues in the Delaware Valley. In some areas audience size has increased dramatically; to what do you attribute the increased interest in poets?

Family and friends. Someone had commented, the majority of people who showed up to my readings were family members. And what is wrong with that?  When I first began reading, I would ask people who knew me to come to my readings.  I don’t know where I would be without the support of my mom, brothers, sisters and friends, because initially no one knew me. The good news is when they show up, they are exposed to different styles of poets and poetry and they may want to be apart of another reading without me begging or blackmailing them. Aside from the support of family and friends, I think audience size will continue to increase for poetry readings as the numbers of readings continue to increase all over the Delaware Valley.

Q. What poets, past and present do you read and who are your favorites?

Some of my favorite poets to read are Emily Dickinson, Walt Whitman, William Carlos Williams, Nikki Giovanni and even the Russian Poet Sergey Yesenin to name a few. There is a special connection when I find a quiet place and read a book of poetry by one of these poetic giants.

Q. You are at the Mad Poets Bon Fire, the crowd is leaving or going camping as you sit on a bench and watch the fire dim. A poet sits next you and begins a conversation. Who would you want that poet to be and why?

This is a good question. I would want that poet to be myself. I feel that I have so much more to learn about poetry and it’s an art form that I have only discovered. As I mentioned in a previous answer, I am on a personal journey of self-discovery and poetry is my medium. I have learned so much from having talks with poets such as Lynn Blue, Arlene Bernstein, Rosemary Capalleo and many others. But at the end of the day, I am responsible for my own growth as a poet and I am still learning to find my own voice among so many very good poets everywhere.

Q. Are you working on any collections and should we anticipate seeing your work soon?

I am reaching out to editors to have more of my work published. I feel that it is just a matter of time before my poetry is published in the form of a chapbook or series of collections. And if any editors are reading this, well reach out and touch a brother. Until then, I encourage everyone to pick up a copy of a journal where my work is published.

Q. Tell us about Mel Brake.  

Well, it has been said by others that I am a man of mysteries and this is true. But if anyone reads or listens to my poetry they will find me somewhere in between the lines. George, I want to thank you and Mad Poets Society. Peace Love and Light.

To schedule Mel Brake for a reading please contact him at mbrake1@msn.com