Duncan Gamble is a poet and a student at the University of Vermont. He is working on a degree in Neuroscience. In this interview, we talk about love, poetry, and inspiration.
Shawnee: Mr. Gamble, where do you draw your inspiration from? Duncan Gamble: it's hard to say I’m often inspired by nature, or by beautiful things in general--I’m often moved (not necessarily to write) by simple things like gravel or the arrangement of leaves on a particular stem or features of someone's face but it's something inside me that throws the words at me S: awesome D: I just channel them this is how every poem I’ve ever written is a love poem S: okay and when you get inspired, do you write it down immediately or do you let the thoughts develop for a while? D: it depends if I lack the mental capacity to mull things over, I write immediately (also if my hands are free; it helps, y'know) this is what happens most of the time but occasionally, I’ll come up with stanzas or whole poems in my head and keep them running over and over until I can write them down S: so do you carry a notebook around with you? D: oh yea and many many pens I’m particular sometimes about the kind and color of ink I write with S: oh yeah? could you elaborate on that? D: sure I mean, I really love writing in thick blue ballpoint ink but sometimes, blue just isn't the right color for the paper I’m writing on or for the thing I’m writing--the same way a painter chooses colors for their works, almost, I just pick the right pen but if it's a really great idea, I’ll use anything to throw it down, and I’ll do it on any scrap of paper--or in a note in my phone--that's available S: so where do you like to write? do you have any favorite places? D: I love old libraries and being under trees
and wherever the inspiration originally hits me
and with other writers or people engaged in their books S: what kinds of people would you say you surround yourself with? D: beautiful people, as much as I can I often attract broken or hurting people, and I like to imagine that they can feel my love and openness, so they come to me I like that I can be there for them, or help them in any way intelligent people people with potential S: Are those the kinds of people that are best to write with as well? D: oh yes most of them are also artists there's a high rate of comorbidity (ha as if artistry is a disease) (ha as if it isn't) S: hahahahaha I like that You feel that art is a disease? Not a cure? D: oh, it's both when it gets to be a compulsion, it can absolutely be a disease S: how do you know when it is becoming a disease (or compulsion) rather than a form of therapy? D: it's hard to say but basically, I think it's that it'd be consuming more time than is manageable or desired and not necessarily providing benefits according to the increase in time spent S: what benefits are you looking to get out of your poetry? D: self-expression, the appreciation of the beauty of everything, and an ability to open myself up and share my innermost essence with others a centering effect in the way that meditation or yoga affects you S: do you also meditate or do yoga? Any other centering activities, I mean? D: I try, when I can I do them sporadically running and exercise are great gardening washing dishes, actually, and monotonous tasks are very meditative S: Oh yes I know exactly what you mean about washing dishes. That is where I get some of my best thoughts D: mmmmhm or showering or driving S: What is your ideal writing environment? If you could go anywhere, hear, smell, taste, anything and be with anyone? Where would you go? D: hm man I really want my own office space there's this house I’ve written about a few times in various pieces and I always have this cluttered table looking out into the mountains I want to be there and living with someone I love deeply and who understands me it doesn't matter who's around as long as I’m getting the quiet birdsongs or daily noise or whatever but no voices, no loud noise serenity & all & warmth & love & understanding S: you mentioned love a few times. Let's talk about that. thoughts? what is love to you? D: mm I dig you good questions S: I try haha D: I mean love, to me, is a passion for the existence of another being, and their ongoing existence their whole time parcel, all of it wrapped up, and the way they shape their energy and all the passion for another being is the key part S: when you say passion, you don't necessarily mean sexual? D: precisely just an overwhelming positivity S: You seem very open and accepting of most everyone. Is there anyone you don't feel love for? D: very few people there's a compassionate love, too S: compassionate love? D: yea like a nonromantic feeling of care for people S: of course D: right & so I have compassion for all beings because they're alive and I understand suffering and I can see their suffering or want to prevent it so I care for them so I compassionately love everything or nearly everything, anyway I try not to kill things like flies and whatever, but I still do intention-centered ideas are key to the justification of those killings S: So do you subscribe to the idea that it takes more energy to hate than love? D: sure, I suppose it's very hard to hate anyone for a sustained period of time it's very easy to love anyone at any time for any amount of time S: Alright one more question. What is coming up for you in terms of new art? Any projects planned for the near future? D: hehe the questions needn't end here--the interview can always continue later I’m not planning any real projects; I’m editing and selecting poems for that contest and for a lit journal submission, but just keepin up the same stuff my art isn't planned, and I like it better that way