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Member Spotlight for the Month of September 2004 - David R Spellman
 David Spellman, a Manufacturing Quality Consultant in New Haven, Connecticut,
was raised in a closely-knit family of four children. Our family would take
some great summer vacations, traveling and camping all across the U.S. I visited
many state and national parks in our summer journeys and when I would return I
would try to write a brief synopsis of our travels. These vacations instilled a
love of nature, and sparked an interest in creative writing.
After high school, David joined the Navy where he trained as an electronics
technician. When his term with the Navy was completed, David began a career in
electronics and manufacturing engineering. As a Manufacturing Quality Manager,
he also dealt with vendor and field service work. David already has a background
in technical writing. As part of my professional life, I have been involved
with writing technical material, including manufacturing instructions,
operating, testing, calibration and training procedures, and, ultimately,
quality manuals, he says.
The love of a woman and joining Pathetic, though, helped David begin to hone
his poetry-writing. He credits the sites wealth of information about the craft
in allowing him to experiment with various forms. It was here that he began to
study and write haiku, a form he says he didnt completely appreciate until he
researched it. He now has a folder in his library dedicated to that art-form.
I've gone through so much evolution and learning as a member of Pathetic,
David says about his work and writing process. When it comes to the initial
writing or editing, he says, Initially I would "get it" mostly on the first
try, or allow it to be as it was written. Now, because of what I have learned
and seen and experienced in comments, etc. here at Pathetic, I usually write and
then go back and edit. He continues, I try to incorporate some of the things
that I have learned in response to the constructive criticism I've received on
earlier postings.
When asked about influences, David gives credit to all poets by saying, All
that I have read have influenced me but I guess I was most attracted by the
writings of Robert Frost, T.S. Elliot and Edgar Allen Poe. When asked about the
poetry he enjoys reading, he laughs and says, All, except bad angst or poorly
constructed! His favourite poem? "There Will Come Soft Rains" by Sara Teasdale.
I was actually introduced to it by reading Ray Bradbury's "Martian Chronicles."
As far as being a published poet, David laughs about his early beginnings in
poetry-writing. No, he chuckles, other than some
early submissions to the "scam" poetry contests which result in mass
publications of every entry and then the offer to sell you the publication. But
his involvement on another poetry site brought him an unexpected honour. I was
asked for permission to use one of my haiku, "Crow Funeral" for addition as an
introductory header to another website dedicated to crows.
Of his own work, David says, "INRI" has to be one of my personal favorites,
written
from the perspective of Christ dying on the cross. In the poem I tried
to relay what it must have been like to have lived through those last moments,
he said. "Yet I also tried to impart what it meant for us, the human race, and
the legacy that was left for us in the act and the remembrance of that act and
the events leading up to it that we, as Christians, celebrate and re-enact in
our traditions.
"Michel" is another favorite of Davids as a tribute to Nostradamus. He ponders,
Often his predictions cant be deciphered until after the event has passed. It
made me wonder, if we could see it clearly beforehand, would we have the power,
will and ability to change the outcome?
"This Feeling I've Known" is more of a biographical piece, especially
in relation to the things that David witnessed as a young person in the 1960s.
"Grave Choice" is an abecedarian written shortly after becoming a member of
Pathetic , and Predilection his first and only attempt at a pantoum.
2 ½ years ago, David was laid off from his full-time job as a Manufacturing
Quality Manager and decided to take advantage of the time to write a novel. I
have always had the "urge" to write, he said, and have begun to follow
through and try to write various novel ideas at different periods throughout my
life. At the same time as the lay-off, he said, an idea had come to me
and
I
thought it would be a good opportunity to pursue that goal. David has since
completed it and is considering submitting it for publication.The following is a list of the highlights of David R Spellman's poetry: Author: Mara Meade
The member spotlighted in this month's "Member Spotlight" is chosen by the pathetic.org Spotlight committee, which is made up of a small group of site patrons and administrators. Each month a member is selected for this privilege based upon contributions to pathetic.org and the quality of work. Previous Member Spotlights |
