One of my coworkers sent me this story this week: The Poet Laureate of Fan Fiction. As usual, I’m always the last to hear interesting news.

“I hope readers find meaning in my work. Even if that meaning slides away from my intention.”

In this case, it’s the story of poetry used to inspire Wincest and Johnlock fanfic. Now, I believe in my fellow slashers’ ability to read slash into anything, because I do the same thing. There’s a Byron poem or two that I’m convinced tell the story of Remus/Sirius pretty damn well. But this is the first time I’ve ever read about a poet not only acknowledging this interpretation but apparently having fun with it. Richard Siken has some things to say about it.

“So how do we respect an original work while we aggregate around it?”

I really enjoy seeing literary discussions of fanfiction, but those discussions never seem to discuss slashfic. So I found this discussion especially fascinating. There’s a lot in here that makes you think about the nature of fanfic, which I think is lovely and healthy, even if I don’t agree with all of it.

“I think my poems enact a space for complicated, multivalent relationships. I think that’s the draw.”

In general, this article just made me happy… and a little sad that this was the first I’d heard of it! Clearly I write too much in my own little communities and don’t venture out enough. And, clearly, I’ve got some poetry that I need to read soon. So far, I especially like “Road Music.”

“I read somewhere that “Siken ships harder than the entire fandom,” so I decided to ship intentionally.”

And maybe I have some more slash fanfic to write in my future? What am I saying? Of course I do.