No doubt cross pollinating ideas with a gifted poet that crisscrossed the world and enjoyed a peek into different cultures and analyzed things from different perspectives affords insightful knowledge to esteemed readers. It as well is beneficial both to emerging poets and seasoned ones.
This poet from www.hellopoetry.com blog stands out for the stunning feedback her poems draw as well as the probing comments she hits back poets with when they post stimulating poems.
I am one of the poets who gained a lot from her in honing my skills. Luckily, I won her go ahead for this interview for the Special Sunday Edition of The Ethiopian Herald turning a crossroad for shinning poets and authors of the world: Excerpts
Herald:- Nice to have you a guest on The Ethiopian Herald Art’s column. To begin with, could you tell us who Fawn is? Brief us about where she is from, educational backdrop and interest or hobby?
Fawn:- Blessing or curse, I come from a family that has moved around a lot and has influences from both US and European cultures. Traveling isn’t so much a hobby or a vacation but rather finding a place for an extended stay to make new friends and immerse me in different lifestyles. I consider myself lucky to have crossed paths with two working professionals who taught me more in six months than I learned from several courses taken in public/private school systems. I’m not saying that school systems are bad but finding successful working professionals to take you under their wings is far better in my experience.
Herald:-How and when is it that you got attracted to literature especially poetry? Do you remember the first time? Among the literary genres where does your interest lie?
Fawn:- I’m an avid reader and lover of the arts and there has never been a day I haven’t asked why? Why am I not the creator? I’m attracted to poetry because in one short and satisfying writing session I can create something that resembles a painting or a song. If I have to choose a literary genre I guess it would be fanciful fiction. Really though, I gravitate to authors who write poetically no matter the genre. Especially, using a coming of age heroic type character.
Herald:-To what ends do you use poems or in which areas do your poems revolve around? What inspires you to pick your pen to write poems? Are their special moments that ignite your inspirations? Do you opt for art for art’s sake or art for life’s sake or in-between areas?
Fawn:- Simple, I aim to entertain and am inspired to communicate poetically. Most of my poems are written directly to or in response to someone in particular and yet I try to write in a way that is inclusive to a wide audience. My subject matter tends to be love and heartache but could also be simply telling you about my day or a new discovery. Why do I write? I believe that I’m here to create and writing poems isn’t so unlike making babies and sending them off into the world to have a life.
Herald:- What are the twists and turns you experienced as a poet?
Fawn:- I do not have a better way to answer this.
So I penned the following poem having a title nativity.
Nativity
Up was the day I said; why not me?
Down was staring at a white blank page.
Up was viewing a black canvas sky
Filled with portal oceanic eyes.
White was finding a close opposite
Shaded behind a frosty rose bush.
Dim was the dullness of left and right
When the arms of limelight buff southpaw.
Frustrated is penning poetry
Constantly being interrupted
By spectators who goad attention.
But there’s a splotch for that verse too, yes?
Joy is in a jingle Christmas ball.
Sadness is a mark without a muse.
Heartaches are shattered Fabergé eggs
Art pieces back together with you.
Herald:- When is it you joined Hello Poetry? How many poems have you so far posted on the web? Do you participate in other blogs?
Fawn:- I joined Hello in May of 2018. I ‘ve written hundreds of poems but have only made 25 available to the Hello “community” of which 3 are visible now ghost-themed for the month of October. I find it remarkable that since May 2018 that 2,724 Hello members have followed my stream. To date, I haven’t participated in other blogs.
Herald:-As I observed your poems that bask under high hits never fail to draw positive feedback of readers. What can you say about that?
Fawn:- I’m thankful and blessed that the Hello community has trusted and felt safe with me to be a good steward of their poetry world. I also think that everyone deserves to be read and acknowledged and I sure worked hard at that while active on the site by writing many comments, poetic replies, and over 2500 direct messages that resulted in far more private poetry than posted publically. I somehow made a lot of friends and hopefully, I wrote well also.
Herald:- Many say “Poetry is not for me!” As such they abstain from penning or reading poems? What do you advise them?
Fawn:- I think we are here to create, that is our gift. If not poetry, then painting, music, gardening, building. Find a canvas and landscape something that expresses only what you could have. If you are shy, in my experience, “shy” usually has something special hidden inside.
Herald:- Given your talent do you have a plan to get published down the road?
Fawn:- I struggle with that. If I’m promoting then I’m out of the writing zone. Perhaps someday I’ll find a talented someone interested in taking that on for me.
Herald:- If you have a message to convey you are welcome. You could bow out with a poem if you like.
Fawn:-Thank You
If I could gust a white bouquet
On spacey rays,
They’d blossom bright
Into your night.
If I could gift a soft corsage
With entourage,
They’d strum in sync
With cheers, we clink.
If I could show you Malaga
In taffeta,
We’d flower there
Celestial flair.
The Ethiopian Herald Sunday January 5/2020
BY ALEM HAILU
