Foreign Objects 2: Seams and Borders

Writer and translator Elizabeth T. Gray considers the craft of integrating foreign objects into poetry.
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Writer and translator Elizabeth T. Gray considers the craft of integrating foreign objects into poetry.
“A book takes a long time to write, and a long time to publish. So, you know, take a breath!” —Lucas Schaefer, author of The Slip
Writer and translator Elizabeth T. Gray explores the history and function of foreign objects in poetry.
“But so much of the work is done in those gaps, when the book sits in the back of your mind with your subconscious untangling it.” —Nicola Dinan, author of Disappoint Me
“And while it is an expansive, strange book, it manages to feel contained and possible. I think that’s in part because it was written from a place of confinement.” —July Westhale, author of moon moon
Author Jehanne Dubrow recommends rituals to help protect yourself when writing about trauma.
“I’m a firm believer these days in discomfort on the page, whether it’s sonic, tonal, metaphorical, or imagistic.” —Keetje Kuipers, author of Lonely Women Make Good Lovers
“Write one poem at a time and resist knowing where you are going.” —Arthur Sze, author of Into the Hush
“Editing down is something I dread in the abstract because I know I can lose motivation easily. But this book has ingrained the lesson in me fully.” —Dennis E. Staples, author of Passing Through a Prairie Country
The author of Spring, Summer, Asteroid, Bird (Norton, 2025) recommends writers embrace circuitous storytelling structures, typical of nonwestern literature.