Angles of Angels, The Echoing Image
At a recent poetry zoom, a poet used a line about mirrored floors. One of the group saw the image as polished floors, another as mirrors laid on the floor. It went on to mirrors leaned against the base of
Concussion Hai*Kovids and other writing processes
During the first pandemic year, in the middle of one August night, my writing process took a dramatic turn. On the way to the washroom, I walked forehead first into the closed oak door of my bedroom. I knew immediately
Nomadic Voluptuary: Nature and Art Inspiring Poetry
I have been drawn to art since I was young. I wanted to excel in art class in high school, but never did. I was the girl who fell behind in math, science, French, and art. Despite my poor luck
Writing is Counting: Why I Tally-up Syllables to Draft a Poem
I always count syllables to write poetry. Not only when scribbling sonnets and haikus (both of which dictate a set number of syllables per line), but also when penning free verse into my notebook. At first glance, it might seem
The Pen
I’m writing this with a fountain pen. A green marble hand-finished pen made by Visconti in Florence, Italy. It's called Pericles, a pen that is normally manufactured in pearlized colours with a hinge clip that resembles Pericles's own headgear.
Mischief: why is a raven like a writing desk
Since 1989 I have seen fit to place what I call a mischief somewhere in every book I write. It’s a little secret between myself and myself. Something inserted that remains hermetic, sealed against reader comprehension. Something only I know.
A Writer Needs a Desk
If it might be said of a writer, as it would certainly be said of me, a writer needs a desk. Though writing well rarely if ever comes down to a mere matter of good furniture, from the very beginning
Poets using fountain pens
My wife put it bluntly: no one can read your handwriting. I can't read your handwriting. Mystery is the key to love and love comes from the soul, but then my daughter added, "Why puzzle the reader? I can't read
On the use of commas in poetry
One of the things that I should probably point out is that poetry is not, how shall we put it, like an undergraduate essay. Poetry relies on sonics -- the sound of the words, the lines, and especially (with the
Good editors – and why they matter
T.S. Eliot once said that it is the duty of every editor to rescue the work from its author. I don't think he meant impose a reading on the work; on the contrary his vision of the editorial process was