Just One Thing with Alex Bortell

Alex Bortell’s poem “Cruising in the Motor City” dances between James Baldwin, God, and Detroit. Here, he shares just one thing about the piece: 

I had to sweat out this poem. For a full day, I paced my apartment between drafts, removing articles of clothing and tossing myself across furniture (it was all very dramatic). I did not want to write this poem but needed to expel it; much of my work requires me to follow my body to places devoid of language, then write regardless.

Since my practice is rooted in research and somatic rituals, writing demands my patience. This poem underwent nearly nine months of revision, though no major alterations were made. My edits focused on sonic precision and refining the poem’s compactness to heighten momentum.