Dr. Rick Barot is a professor of English and the director of The Rainier Writing Workshop, the MFA Creative Writing program, at PLU. He released his newest book of poetry, Moving the Bones, through Milkweed Editions; Dr. Barot’s other novel, The Galleons (2020), is also published by Milkweed. This latest work follows three other celebrated collections published by Sarabande Books, including The Darker Fall (2002), Want (2008), and Chord (2015). Each of these works has contributed to his reputation as one of the Northwest’s leading literary voices.
Dr. Barot kicked off his latest release with a reading at Open Books in Seattle on October 18th, sharing the stage with poets Luther Hughes, Jason Koo, and Jane Wong.
Described by poet Jennifer Chang as “a book of great daring and even greater vulnerability,” Moving the Bones is a meditation on middle age, exploring what it means to look both backward and forward in life. Now in his 50s, Dr. Barot writes about this stage as one of affirmation and anticipation—a time for taking stock of his experiences, while also pondering future possibilities and uncertainties. The collection balances introspective stability with a sense of anticipation and anxiety.
For Dr. Barot, writing doesn’t start with a neatly packaged message. “Meaning is not the initiating or spark point for […] any of my writing,” he explained. Instead, he begins with an image, a story, or even just a feeling, allowing the meaning to emerge naturally. He calls meaning “a byproduct of exploring form and content.” Starting with concrete, tangible details allows him to reveal more profound insights.
The middle section of Moving the Bones includes thirty prose poems, or long-form poetry, written during the pandemic. For Dr. Barot, writing these prose poems was especially enjoyable and offered a new creative direction of long-form poetry he wanted to explore further.
Reflecting on his experience of publishing the book, Dr. Barot shared his gratitude. “It’s a feeling of privilege,” he said. Publishing, he acknowledges, is a tough journey, and he feels lucky to have had his work supported by publishers who resonate with his vision.
Find out more about Dr. Barot’s work and upcoming events at rickbarot.com or @rickbarot1 on Instagram. Moving the Bones is now available in stores and online.
