Life of a Poet - Robyn Greenhouse

Kids, I know you have come across  Robyn Greenhouse at Adventures in Laughter on your travels through the 'sphere. Robyn participates faithfully at Poets United, and her posts are rich with the humor of daily living in an animated, lively family. We're zipping over to the eastern seaboard for this interview, kids, and looking down from above, we can see the glorious spring blossoms lavishly decorating the landscape. As we pull up out front, I can hear laughter.....so this must be the place!

P.U.: Robyn, it's so nice to be visiting with you at last! Would you like to tell us where you live and who you share your life with?

Robyn: I live in Maryland with my husband, 3 boys and 2 dogs. Two of my boys are now teenagers, one just got his driving permit. Not quite sure how I got to this point in my life! Our house is loud. If you ever want to come visit, just walk around, eventually you will hear one of us!

P.U.: I've gathered from your posts you are a busy wife and mother. Do you combine that with working outside the home?

Robyn: I was fortunate to stay home for a number of years. About two years ago my son asked me “What would you do if you could do anything?” I told him I would teach yoga. When he asked why didn’t I, of course there was the list of excuses – laundry, dinner, you know, the usual excuses. Thanks to my husband’s agreeing to take over all family duties while I did my training, I’m now teaching yoga.

P.U.: Now that is a supportive husband. Way to go, Robyn! Where did you grow up?

Robyn: I grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, with my parents and two older brothers.  We all still live near each other. Plus, my husband’s family is nearby as well.

Puddles

P.U.: Have you always written, or did you come to writing poetry as an adult? Do you remember when you wrote your first poem?

Robyn: When I was younger, I thought maybe I could be an author. In my mind, there would be a pyramid of books in a bookstore window. The top one would be flipped to the back with the author’s picture on it – that picture would be of me!

In college, I got a bad grade in freshman English, was told I wasn’t a good writer and gave up that dream.

Sunshine

Fast forward and somehow I was turning 45. I was reminded of this dream, and decided it was now or never to start writing and so my blog was born. My friend, Stacie Spencer, told me about a course with  Kim Klassen . Through the support of the women I met on the online course, the posts kept coming!

P.U.: Online connections definitely keep us writing, don't they?

Robyn: Somehow I stumbled upon blogs that provide inspiration and prompts such as Poets United. Thanks to your weekly suggestions and other prompts from other sites, my poems have been written and I’ve connected with other bloggers.

There are so many supportive bloggers in the world! It’s amazing how they find the time to not only read so many blogs but to leave comments, and on top of that – write their own posts as well!

P.U.: I know - there is little time to be bored! What do you love about poetry? What made you choose it as your means of creative expression?

Robyn: I love that you can write poetry quicker than a novel! I don’t have that much time to write, so it’s nice to have a sense of accomplishment that I get with poetry.  I don’t have a brain for numbers – when I worked in a bank, they told me whatever I do, don’t work with numbers! With words, they seem to fall into place. 

I’ll wait to see what the prompt is, look at the words for a while and then something will click. It feels like working a crossword puzzle, when it works it works. And when it doesn’t, at least I can hit delete.

Alive!

Wake to the sun
Rays reaching down
Activate my heart
Spirit comes alive!
Overcome with the urge to sing
Delicious notes from where
They form I do not know

Place technology aside
Indulge in today's
Inquisitive and stellar
New performance
As Nature and man merge
Project ahead a future
Of hope
Erase smudges of past mistakes

Create a new mantra
That ignites inner urge
Of unity with nature
Step outside
Experience life
Rejoice in the suns warmth

Waste not today
Tomorrow is another day
But now is the moment

P.U.: I love this, Robyn. It's a great philosophy. Given the name of your blog, I gather humor is part of your everyday life. What makes you laugh the most?

Robyn: If I didn’t laugh, there would have been many days that would be tough to get through. No more or less than anyone else’s life, but tough just the same.

Robyn and Stephen

My husband makes me laugh. Plus, I think my kids are so funny! My husband thinks my humor is a little different than most – I see words in a different way sometimes than others. My family has the same humor, so I know I can always count on my parents or brothers for a good laugh! 

P.U.: I love the humor in this sign you posted recently. Who is your favorite poet, Robyn? What appeals to you about their writing, and do you think it has had any influence on your own work?

Robyn: I can’t say that I have a favorite poet – I’m truly amazed and in awe of so many artists. I love their creativity whether it’s with words, paint, photography and their confidence to just put it all out there for the world to see.

P.U.: How do you fit writing in, around the demands of a busy family? Is there a time of day or night that works best for you?

Robyn:  When you get to know me, you would laugh thinking night was a time that works best for me! I get up very early usually around 5 am, which is the best time for me to write – while the house is quiet, before anyone needs a ride somewhere, or a dog needs to be walked! I also tend to write more on weekend mornings.

P.U.: What other activities do you enjoy?

Robyn: If I had a free pass one day I would probably spend it having a leisurely breakfast with that first cup of coffee. Gazing out the window at my husband’s garden (remember, his name is Greenhouse!) I would write deep, moving poems followed by reading other writers poems.  This would be followed by doing some sort of exercise and some yoga, walking the dogs or taking them on a hike somewhere with my husband, dragging the kids out the door with us. Maybe a bike ride if the kids protested too much. Once we got started we would all be happy together. (This is just a make believe ideal day.)

Lunch. Coffee. 

Do some reading. Try my hand at some photography and Photoshop editing.

Spend some time reading other blog posts. Make deep meaningful comments (remember  on this day   I have lots of time!)

Then head out for a movie or dinner with some friends and then begin the whole day again the next morning!

P.U.: Sigh. Sounds wonderful! Is there a cause dear to your heart?

Robyn: One of my sons has ulcerative colitis, so I’d love to wake up one morning to the news that a cure has been found! He was diagnosed about 8 years ago. There are times when you would never know he has anything, but when he has a flair it is very painful. I really admire the way he has handled the disease and the pain that it can cause. I’m not sure I could ever be so strong.

P.U.: What a worry that must be to you. Where is your favorite place in the world?

Robyn: My favorite place in the world – this is a very good question! I think I would just have to say being home. I like the comforts of being at home! Maybe when everyone is grown and moved out, I’ll prefer traveling but for now, home.

P.U.: I agree. Me, too! Have you ever lived a great adventure?

Robyn: Every day I wake up with my list of what needs to be accomplished. Then the unexpected happens, so I’m pretty sure I’m living that great adventure every day!

P.U.: Ram Dass would say "Life is a great opportunity to practice Being Flexible"! Is there anything you’d like to say to the members of Poets United?

Robyn: Thank you so much. If it weren’t for sites like this, I probably wouldn’t have anyone except for my mother and husband reading my blog! One of them has to, if he wants dinner that night!

I never understood what people did on their computers all the time at coffee shops. Now, I’m one of those people who can’t wait to see what’s posted! I don’t always leave deep comments, but I do try to leave something so others know I’ve stopped by.

Thank you to all the bloggers and readers that do stop by. All your visits are very much appreciated and while maybe I should be writing for myself, I can’t lie, it sure is nice to hear from everyone!

P.U.: Thank you, Robyn, for your participation at Poets United, and for allowing us into your world for such an enjoyable visit.

Sigh. I must disagree with Tolstoy. Happy families are not all alike. Each of the happy families we have visited is happy in its own way. Wasn't this a cool visit, kids? Come back to see who we talk to next. Who knows? It might be you!