Poet Tyler Knott Gregson Discusses Poetry & Baseball with His Dad

The poet and photographer Tyler Knott Gregson publishes a snapshot of his mind on his Instagram account daily—actually, he publishes two. One features a haiku exploring love, usually written in ink on a torn page. The second, a brief stanza or two typed on a scrap of paper, is part of his ongoing Typewriter Series. Gregson’s poetry attracts an active social following that has earned him several book deals. To date, the Helena, Montana, resident has published three (well-received) collections of his unvarnished, frank musings.

We were in the room when Tyler wrote a Father’s Day poem for his dad, Glenn “Goose” Gregson, a Boston Red Sox Latin American pitching coordinator and former minor league baseball pitcher. Pretty sweet, right? So was the conversation that followed.

Part of the Typewriter Series, from @tylerknott

Glenn: I’m kind of interested to see what you come up with.

Tyler: You have to wait and see.

Glenn: See you can do that.

Tyler: Yeah, you can throw a fastball. That’s fine.

Glenn: I can show you how to throw a split-finger while you’re showing me how to put in parentheses.

Tyler: I’m not much for punctuation though.

Glenn: You’re alliteration.

Tyler: That’s true.

Glenn: What’s the difference in alliteration and onomatopoeia?

Tyler: Onomatopoeia is when it’s the sound.

Glenn: Now is this just coming right out of your…

Tyler: Yeah, it’s double challenging when there’s people.

Glenn: When I’m banging a glove and a ball.

Tyler: That makes it easier actually. That’s a familiar sound.

Glenn: Well, this is cool for the fan that likes the sound of a typewriter but also likes the sound of a baseball hitting the leather.

Tyler: It’s the best of both worlds.

Glenn: Yeah.

Tyler: This is probably like what an old sportswriter felt like.

Glenn: Well, you know what? That’s the way the old sportswriters used to do it. When I was on the field throwing a baseball, they were up there typing about how poorly I threw a baseball.

Tyler: You can’t peek, though.

Glenn: Oh, okay. I’m not reading it. I don’t have my glasses on so I couldn’t see what you’re writing anyway.

Tyler: They said compact, so here’s a compact.

Glenn: Alright. Am I supposed to read this?

Tyler: I think so.

Glenn: Alright. [Reading] The man I am, taken from pieces of the man you were. I am I because you let me be, because you never asked me to follow.

That’s awesome. That’s awesome. I know.

Tyler: It’s hard when you’re under pressure.

Glenn: Perhaps I’m the man I am because of you. Did you ever stop to think of it that way?

Tyler: I think we helped each other. No crying.

Glenn: No crying ’cause…

Tyler: No crying in baseball.

Glenn: No, there is no crying in baseball.

 

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