Poets on Record

A special online series exploring the work and creative process of writers through video interviews. New short videos were released weekly throughout the spring of 2014.

Maurice Mierau


Genre Lines: Thematic Connections (3:42)


Travel: The Impact of a Place (1:43)

In this video, Maurice Mierau discusses landscape, narrative and biography. He talks about being a second generation refugee and how, to him, place is "a metaphor for moving through one's life and reflecting on it in the way that a poet should."

Inspiration: Living in Jamaica (1:26)

In this video, Maurice Mierau talks about his childhood influences and early writing experiences.

The Creative Process: Listening, Learning, and Living (3:17)

Maurice Mierau discusses the importance of listening.

Culture, Language, and Community (3:57)

Maurice Mierau speaks about why Mennonite writers are drawn to community and writing groups.

Writing from Experience: Finding Comfort in Discomfort (2:54)

Maurice Mierau talks about how his Mennonite background has given him a strong sense of himself as a poet.

Poetry Books: Variety (2:10)

Maurice Mierau talks about why and how he tries to create variety between his works.

On Editing: Finding New Voices (1:50)

Maurice Mierau discusses reading manuscripts for book and magazine publishers, and looking for the individual voice of interesting new writers.

On Editing: Revising and Reviving (5:28)

In this video, Maurice Mierau speaks to why it takes so long to write a book of poems.

Location: Moving Around (1:53)

Maurice Mierau talks about moving around a lot when he was younger.

Awards & Reviews: Helping Readers Make Choices (6:53)

In this video, Maurice Mierau discusses what winning the 2009 ReLit award for poetry meant to him, as well as the differences between winning awards and being reviewed.

Poem: Alone (1:20)

Maurice Mierau reads his poem "Alone" from his book Fear Not, published by Turnstone Press in 2008.

Poem: The impassioned ex-formalist Pulitzer Prize-winning womanizing alcoholic jumps off a bridge (3:08)

Maurice Mierau reads "The impassioned ex-formalist Pulitzer Prize-winning womanizing alcoholic jumps off a bridge," the first poem in his manuscript Six.

Poem: Victimized (2:57)

Maurice Mierau reads his poem "Victimized" from his collection Fear Not for Poets on Record.

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