FirstBlog

Writers—both professional and devoted hobbyists—have a knack for finding inspiration everywhere. Writers block is a myth, but this does not mean that there are not those times when we need to find a little something for inspiration.   My dad is a professional musician. Growing up, I spent many summers away from home—on the road, exploring different parts of the country and eccentric small towns. I was always enamored with small town life, especially in the deserts. I grew up (and still live) in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, so, desert dwellers and desert towns always held a special fascination for me.   Elizabeth Bishop captured this curiosity with her spectacular poem, “ Filling Station .”   This poem, which describes a small town gas station with serves also as the home for a family. This poem inspired my own poem, “ Getting Gas in Barstow, California ” which was later published in my debut poetry collection. I decide, “What would happen if I took Bish