Loud Music

“Over a Cup of Coffee” by Stephen Dobyns

This poem is a useful comparison to “Loud Music”: both begin in the mundane and then delve into philosophical questions about existence. Written in similarly long lines, “Over a Cup of Coffee” is also useful for better understanding Dobyns’s style.

“On the Way to Work” by Stephen Dunn

Born in 1939, just two years before Dobyns, Stephen Dunn is a contemporary to Dobyns and an important poet to consider when analyzing Dobyns’s work. Dunn also writes about everyday topics, such as going to work, using the everyday as a jumping off point into the philosophical or abstract. “On the Way to Work” is no exception; it chronicles seeing a bumper sticker that spurs existential thoughts.

“White Dog” by Carl Phillips

Carl Phillips, born in 1959, writes in a very different style—short lines with abrupt turns of phrase and arresting syntax. “White Dog” offers an interesting contrast to Dobyns’s work for these rhythmical and formal reasons.

"Stephen Dobyns: Part I" and "Stephen Dobyns: Part II" in The Cortland Review

In these in-depth interviews, Stephen Dobyns shares his journey to becoming a writer and his thoughts on poetic form, the importance of music and rhythm in his long lines, and revision.