Our Artists: ‘Poetry is part of my life’

Name: Kevin C. Hunt Age: 71 Town: Newport Artistic medium: Poetry Question: Why do you write poetry?

Answer: I write poetry because I still can.

I say that tongue in cheek. I actually wrote a poem titled “The Riddle” where I rhymed my way through reasons I attempt poetry.

To start I have the time, I can sit on the deck watching the world turn, viewing weather and wildlife, knowing and thanking our creator. I can think of experiences I’ve had past and present and how I learn from them. I hope to write about things that will make people feel better.

“The Riddle” is solved; I’m just a simple man. I write poems just because I still can.

Q: What does your writing represent?

A: My writings represent everyday life of a man from a small town in southern Illinois. From learning to tie my shoes, to playing football in high school and college, followed by 32 years of rugby. In between getting married and having kids 21 years apart.

Q: What inspires you? A: I’m inspired by the beauty in the world, by babies, by seeing people succeed in things they try, by lost people turning to Jesus.

Q: Do you have a writing process? If so, what does it look like?

A: The process I use in writing poetry varies from rambling to meandering. Sometimes ideas just pop into my head and other times I look at something that on the surface doesn’t seem interesting or important and challenge myself to tell a story and make it rhyme.

Once I was standing in a grocery checkout line at the end of a frustrating day, and I looked down and saw a beautiful, blue-eyed baby smiling up at me and I realized God used another baby to send a message that became a poem.

Poetry has become an integral part of my life. I feel blessed to be able to tell a story and make it enjoyable to others with rhyme.

Hunt’s book, “Ramblings of a Meandering Narrative Poet: Keep Moving Forward” is available now for purchase on Amazon.

SOPHIA MATTICE-ALDOUS IS A MURROW NEWS FELLOW WORKING DIRECTLY WITH NEWSROOMS AT THE NEWPORT MINER AND RANGE MEDIA THROUGH A PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY. HER REPORTING IS AVAILABLE FOR USE VIA CREATIVE COMMONS WITH CREDIT.