Chapel Hill’s Flyleaf Books will kick off its busiest season of the year with a dual poetry reading featuring author Marly Youmans and former Carrboro poet laureate Jay Bryan today.
Youmans will be reading selected works from her poetry book, “The Foliate Head,” and an excerpt from a book-length poem called “Thaliad.” Bryan plans to read selected works from his recently published book, “Selected Poems.”
Both authors often draw inspiration from random images, phrases or moments that stick with them. Bryan said he uses poetry as a way to reflect on his experience and is often inspired by the people in his life. He also said he believes poetry offers something for everyone.
“(A poem is) a universal attempt at a personal perspective,” Bryan said. “Something is triggered in the mind and the heart by the way poems are arranged.”
Youmans often finds the inspiration to write when she least expects it.
“I’m a messier kind of writer,” she said.
She said she rarely has a set plan and prefers to sit back and let inspiration come when it chooses.
Youmans said she believes the most important characteristics for a young aspiring writer to have are a passion for reading — which is what fueled her own desire to become a writer — and no strict set of expectations.
“At that time, you don’t know what kind of writer you’ll be when you’re 30,” Youmans said. “Don’t listen to people who say they know.”
