Mark Pawlak, a distinguished poet, publisher, and activist, is a central figure in the Boston poetry scene. In an interview with journalist John Wisniewski, Pawlak shared insights about his upbringing in Buffalo, New York, and his evolving career in poetry and education.

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Pawlak explained that despite his long association with Brooklyn through his work as an editor at Hanging Loose Press, he is a Buffalo native. Growing up during the post-war economic boom, he witnessed his hometown's transformation from a thriving industrial hub to a struggling city shortly after he left for college.

The son of Polish immigrants, Pawlak shared that his family lived in a predominantly Polish neighborhood where Polish was often spoken at home. His father worked various jobs, including as a welder, while Pawlak's early education was influenced by strict Catholic schools. He noted that even as traditional opportunities expanded for working-class families like his, racial tensions prompted his family to move to the suburbs, typical of the “white flight” of the era.

An interest in science permeated his youth, but it was not until college that he began to explore poetry. Pawlak attributed a significant shift in his career to the anti-Vietnam War movement he encountered at MIT during his senior year. Witnessing growing unrest and concerns over the university's involvement in defense projects led him to abandon physics in favor of activism and teaching.

During his time at MIT, he attended a poetry workshop taught by Denise Levertov, which he described as transformative; it was here that he began to hone his craft. Pawlak later moved to Cambridge, where he co-founded The Group School, an alternative high school aimed at engaging working-class teens in their education. The connections he formed with his students deepened his understanding of his own childhood and inspired much of his poetic work, including his collection, The Buffalo Sequence.

Pawlak expressed inspiration from the Objectivist movement, particularly from poets like Charles Reznikoff and Lorine Niedecker. He described his approach to poetry as “Observational Poetics,” emphasizing the importance of presenting the world and allowing feelings to emerge through careful attention to subject matter.

His recent poetry collection, Away Away, features a mix of poems drawn from his journal entries during his tenure at UMass Boston. This collection reflects on personal experiences, including his travels to Maine and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a literary editor, Pawlak has contributed to various publications, including his work at West End Press and Hanging Loose Press, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary. He shared that the press champions the voices of younger poets, indicating their inclusion in anthologies such as When We Were Countries.

Looking ahead, Pawlak is assembling a collection of his political poetry and plans to gather his essays and memoirs for publication, ensuring that his work continues to resonate with readers.