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                                             Featured Poet
                                    Jay C. Hershberg Interview

Editor: When did you first consider yourself a poet?
Jay:  I still don't classify myself in the category of "poet" I think of myself as a
         person, through writing, as someone wishing to bring some sense of romance
         and joy to people, and perhaps be remembered once I am no longer amongst
         the living.

Editor:  Where do you get the inspiration or ideas for a poem?
Jay:  Strictly from my heart and soul. If I can't "feel" it, I can't write it.

Editor:  Who or what inspired my first chapbook?
Jay:  My wife and family 90%, my friends 5% , my weird sense of humor 5%.

Editor:  How many chapbooks have I published? 
Jay:  I am not exactly sure but my guess is about a dozen or more.

Editor:  Do you have a specific writing style?
Jay:  No. I try to keep my metering right for the type of poem I write some with
        6 syllables, some 7, some 8, some with more

Editor:  What poets, if any, influence your poetry?
Jay:  Mostly Shelley, Keats and Poe. Some Shakespeare and some Dickinson.

Editor:  Who is your favorite poet?
Jay:   Believe it or not, as of recently I now have two, Graham Ducker and
        Lou Ponstingl.
        Of course the macabre sense of Poe is unmatchable.

Editor:  Do you have any advice for other poets?
Jay:  Only this. Be sincere in what you write. If you feel what you have to say is
        genuine, by all  means write it.

Editor:  What advice can you offer to up and coming poets?
Jay:  Stick to your guns. Don't let anything or anyone tell you what to write.

Editor:  The Ontario Poetry Society  - you were the first president, give us
              a little bit of background or history: when started, what was the
               goal, how many involved and where it is to day.
Jay: It started out as a dream of my daughter's to form a truly grass roots society
       for all poets regardless of color, creed or religion. Making me the first president
       was more of an honorary appointment than an elected post. I tried to bring a
       sense of decorum and pride to my job and  inspire poets to bring their writings
       into the Society. Today, we have over 150 active members and the society is
       considered one of the best poetic places to come to and bring their  poems
       with them..

Editor:  Any awards?
Jay:  Quite a few honorable mentions. The World Of Poetry dubbed me "Golden
        Poet in 1990 and awarded me a plaque. A few first and second prizes in
        contests before free style was the accepted format. Published in The Toronto
        Sun and the Outreach Connection along with about 8 or 9 anthologies amongst
        which is "Word Magic" in which Edgar Allan Poe is in the same book.

Editor:  Do you have anything to say to our readers?
Jay:  Read what is written. Don't try to read anything into the poem that isn't really
        there.

Editor:  What poets, if any, influence your poetry?
Jay:  Mostly Shelley, Keats and Poe. Some Shakespeare and some Dickinson.

Editor:  If you had to do it all over again what would I do differently?
Jay:   Not a thing. My poetry is what I feel at the time I write it.

Editor:  Is there anything you find challenging about poetry?
Jay:  Yes. the lack of acceptance for rhyming verse. Most publishers today want
        only free verse, and, most of my poetry is not prosaic.

Thank you Jay C. Hershberg for allowing us to interview you. 
It’s been a real pleasure.  Editor, Stella Ducker