Indie Author Tuesdays: Bob McNeil
Bob McNeil
Bob McNeil is a phenomenal poet, writer editor and artist. A consistent host of the Harlem Book Fair, McNeil’s poetry can be steadily found in various poetry magazines, websites and journals . With a voice that booms when reading his pieces and balmy when giving writing nuggets, McNeil is unforgettable.
“Nonetheless, to me, white follicles and wrinkles are medals. Awarded for
longtime service, they indicate that I survived battles with my body and the world
beyond. Sure, life’s later years are difficult. But, compared with earlier stages, the
aging process is noble”- The Introduction of Lyrics of Mature Hearts
From the introduction, I already knew what I was getting myself into. Honestly, it was refreshing.
The beauty of aging. A late loved one of mine told me that the older you get, the more seasoned you get. Life experiences give you flavor and I was definitely ready to read the salts, ginger, Adobo and garlic in poetic form. Divided up into 5 themes/messages every voice stands on its own.
Regret by Edna Garcia is a bittersweet and raw piece.
“Autumn came suddenly,
And with it, memories of vain,
Useless laurels
That I would gladly exchange
For some measure of happiness.”
I felt every word and I only hope that it inspires people to pay attention to the more important things in life. We will all have our regrets eventually and that’s also what I loved about this piece. Although somber it lets readers know that: (especially those who are older and dealing with regret now) You are not alone.
Bob McNeil’s, Archived gives us a scoop as to how short term memories flow at an older age. Fleeting short-term flashback slipping from one’s fingers. However, he mentions what he is really focused on. A piece chock full of metaphors and similes, McNeil’s piece has a small hint of humor in it, which doesn’t surprise me. Although Bob McNeil is an honorable writer and performance poet, he has a light hearted sense of humor.
“Short-term memory loss is similar
to watching TV commercials.
The memories ask for my attention,
only to lose it by
the next round of remembrances.”- Archived
One of my favorite pieces is Edward Thomas Dillon’s, “Your Body Deserts You”. The bold acceptance that youthfulness will fade, the titties finna’ sag, you will retire and you will eventually pass. The moments that all fall in between (marriage, love, children, loneliness, body aches from simply getting up, etc) I love it. There is so much stress into “keeping it youthful”. So much fighting against father time when we could simply embrace the beauty of it all: The wisdom, the friends we picked up along our journey, the memories, achievements and lessons. The scars and wrinkles are badges of honor to reveal you made it this far and you’ve got stories to tell!
Bob McNeil E-Interview
How did you join this project?
About a year ago, via Facebook, a very talented Chicana poet asked me to write love poems with her. Through a series of correspondences, she explained how we could use Elizabeth and Robert Browning as sources for inspiration. At first, the idea intrigued me. However, it seemed odd to express adoration for someone I did not know intimately. Later, upon giving the idea some thought, I suggested an anthology on life and love by older people. She agreed. Once we confronted the difficulties of working on the project, she respectfully quit. I, being committed to the idea, continued. Today I, while looking at the published book, do not regret my decision.
Honestly, I haven’t heard or read any anthology that highlights the beauty and
gems about aging. It reads like a trail blazing collection. What inspired you to be a
part of a project that is geared towards the more seasoned people?
Agreed, I am not familiar with any other poetry anthology that explores the myriad aspects of aging, either. Therefore, simply put, I felt it was time for such a literary collection. Furthermore, as an older person, the idea of leaving a testimonial about life became important. That point was not lost on me when I heard about the coronavirus. Being aware of the pandemic and its impact on both older and younger generations created an urgency for the completion of Lyrics of Mature Hearts
When it comes to poetry, do you think ageism rears its head in poetry (as far as
poetry contests and anthology submissions)?
Yes, certain editors, far surpassing census takers, obsess over the ages of their contributors. In my opinion, humans, no matter the date of their births, possess more in common than not.
What did you love most about being a part of Lyrics of Mature Hearts?
From the beginning of the project, I got inundated with poems that would have been better suited for greeting cards. Submission after submission, I looked for candid depictions of getting older. Once a series of unreserved verses came my way, I experienced euphoria. Each truthful contributor touched me in a way that was on par with an old friend or family member. Knowing the names of these poets is a source of great comfort.
I noticed that both of your poems are about companionship and love. Did the tone or message of your poems about love change over the years?
Yes, I am glad to say that my perspective on those subjects changed. Although this is an embarrassing admission, in my youth, my first love poems dealt with only a libidinal motive. Now,as an older person, I care about all the emotional colors on couplehood’s palette. Moreover, these days, I am concerned about my partner’s feelings, not just my own. That’s my definition of maturity.
Is there anything you’d like to share about Lyrics of Mature Hearts?
Success is a car that everybody wants to drive. This anthology received a lot of maintenance and fuel from Gordon P. Bois, the publisher. Quite frankly, the project would have stalled on the road if we did not have him. The poets showed me other roads that we could explore along this versified journey. George Juan Vivo showed me a destination with a vista hermosa on the book cover. As the editor, I sometimes sat in the backseat and asked, “Are we there yet?”
How long have you been writing poetry?
Well, let’s see, I remember asking Adam and Eve for their opinions about one of my odes to leaf-adorned underwear. All jokes aside, I fell in love with poetry at age six. A Child’s Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson made me see what wonderous words could do.
Is there any advice you would like to give us writers?
Provided it is all right, my answer resides in this poem:
The Recipe to Be a Writer
by Bob McNeil
Besides a pencil or pen,
Paper, and an imagination,
You need the ears of a moth,
A bird’s vision,
A Philomath’s brain,
A Hippocratic heart,
And an empath’s spirit,
Then mix in incidents from your life.
Let simmer,
And you’ll write.
You’ll write.
©Copyright 2020
You released your own collection, Verses of Realness, in 2019 with Underground Books. Are you working on any new collections?
Until my demise, I will write. So, to answer your question, I am always working on something. Between editing my soulmate’s novel, I am compiling a collection of short stories for people with long attention spans.
Among Bob McNeil’s recent accomplishments as a writer, editor, and spoken word artist, he
found working on the anthology entitled Lyrics of Mature Hearts to be a humbling experience because of the talented contributors. He has his own poetry collection, Verses of Realness, which was published in 2019
Now available on Amazon!
You can purchase your copy HERE
