The Lightning Room With Mary Lou Buschi

In the history of our past, the dog days of July, we presented two poems by Mary Lou Buschi, “Eddie” and “When That Phone Call Comes.” We find them reinvigorated, in this interview with the author:

1. Who is Eddie?

Eddie is my archetypal “heart of darkness.” He is both man and child- victim and villain. When I met him I was living in an unfamiliar place. Nothing made sense. I didn’t make sense. Eddie was the embodiment of my own horror; my own misunderstanding of a landscape and a people.

2. Both poems offer the sense of something striven for, a quest incomplete, something gathered at roots. Is this a frequent theme in your writing?

Yes, I believe all of my poems have some sort of quest, as you call it. Or, perhaps they are journeys. Some are literal and some metaphorical. I realized recently that so many of the poems take place in cars. The poem, “When that Phone Call Comes” began with a real script that I found on my husband’s desk. We were turning in our first leased car and he was researching the best way to negotiate. When I saw it I thought he had been writing and read it like a poem. The moment I realized I was reading a script sent from a dealer, I began writing the poem.

3. There are no literal rivers in these poems, but can you offer a response to this song?

Oh, the horror. I have a personal aversion to Bruce Springsteen.

4. Can you describe your most recent occurrence of terrible/lovely?

Terrible/Lovely happens when you love/want something so much it manifests in a physical act of sickness or violence. Biting my boyfriend’s ear until it bled.

5. Why do you think we react so harshly during moments of apparent sincerity?

Because sincerity is embarrassing- sometimes insulting. Effusive love. We are suspicious. We are too cool. Not interested in being caught in the syrupy stuff.

6. How long can we keep our hold on the sky? When is our lease up?

Our lease or hold is up when we reach the top.

From Trees:

I want to climb them.

But the branches are too high-

And what will you do when you get there?

Have a wedding in the sky.