Mel Corbeau is a poet from California, United States. In this interview he talks about his passion for writing poetry, and his latest project, a book of poetry entitled Infinity.
Let’s see what poetry means for Mel Corbeau:
You have been a poet for some time now. How did you start?
I actually started writing poetry and prose in the fourth grade. Obviously, back then I wrote about what I knew, which at the time was animals and friendship. I loved writing about wolves and my definition of love at the time. My works have certainly evolved since then and been shaped by life’s experiences.
What influenced you the most?
The largest impact on my writing took place while deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan with the US Army. I gained a new understanding and sense of life while there. Another large impact on my writing has been music. I listen to Justine Timberlake, Ruelle, Christina Perri and many female Indie vocalists when writing. I would say that my writing is in a sense like Justin Timberlake and others’ music because I write from the soul and based on what is happening around me.
Where did the inspiration for Infinity come from?
The inspiration for Infinity came from dreams I have had since I was young. It seems to be a story between a woman and her wolf that has lasted since the beginning of time. Over the years I have started to see different parts to their story when meditating and have decided to share their story with the world.
Why did you choose poetry as the medium of artistic expression?
I chose poetry because there are no rules. Like many other arts, you can do whatever comes to mind and never feel judged (in my opinion). Some people will like it and some people will not, but at the end of the day each sentence has many different meanings and can be interpreted differently amongst all of the unique minds of this universe.
What topics do you deal with?
I tend to write more about themes that balance one another. For instance, love and hate, light and dark, joy and sadness, life and death, and anything that allows both sides of the story to be told.
Are you planning to write and publish more in this genre?
I do plan to write and publish more in this genre. Poetry has always been my way to not only express myself, but also a way to express the vibrations of others. I believe poetry is relatable and allows people to feel as if they are not alone in their daily thoughts.
Do people still read poetry these days?
I tend to revert back to the classics and those with amazing originality such as Edgar Allan Poe, William Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson, Oscar Wilde, T.S. Eliot, Maya Angelou, Rumi and E. E. Cummings. I would say that these writers had a large impact on my life over the years and laid the foundation for the career path I have chosen as a poet. Many of my fellow writers also share similar tastes in authors. I will say that although poetry is not as popular as other genres, I believe poetry is very esoteric in nature as it is like a secret language understood by those that truly believe in it. I will say that poetry has a great presence on social media these days and the amount of poets that share their works is phenomenal.
What plans do you have for the future?
In the future I can only plan to keep writing whatever comes to mind. I believe that my poetry will keep evolving, which will in turn touch more souls.
Visit Mel Corbeau’s website and connect with him on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
