Here's the recording of the interview I promised a week or two back. It is a bit long, so it may take a while to load; I hope you think it's worth it!
The interview is conducted by Harry Lee, of Dundalk FM, at Dundalk Arts Office as an outside broadcast on October 2nd, as part of the Poetry Ireland 30th Anniversay All-Ireland Poetry Day celebrations.
The first interviewee is Patrick Chapman, who came down to Dundalk on the day from Dublin. The collections that he mentions are Breaking Hearts and Traffic Lights, from Salmon Press, and A Shopping Mall on Mars. The link I've given are for two of the poems that he reads in the interview.
The second interviewee is Paddy Dillon from Drogheda. An irregular regular in poetry events in and around Drogheda and Dublin as well as further afield, I am rather hoping that Paddy will have a collection published sometime soon. His poems are always unexpected in their trajectory.
And then there's me; I was blabbing so much that Harry hadn't time to ask me for a third poem. Who'd think that I could talk that much about poetry!
8 comments:
Very enjoyable. I particularly liked the interviewer...'ordinary people like...myself!' and 'are you a love person?' His awkwardness around all you poets was kind of...endearing!
Nice to hear your voice. Do you ever get sick of being asked about the kids? Just a question.
x
No, actually I don't get sick of it at all: they're a part of my life, and I'm often astonished by other people's appreciation for the time constraints that I have. Glad you found time to listen to it, Rachel: Harry's 'ordinariness' adds a sense of small wonder to the proceedings, I think, which is charming.
I just wondered...about the kids thing. I know some women really hate it and certainly male poets (or male anythings) very rarely get asked about their kids in quite the same way.
However like you...it doesn't bother me. Just now motherhood/parenthood/childrearing is such a big part of my life that it would be weirder not to talk about it...at least sometimes. And in fact I really hate it when the papers carry articles by some famous writer complaining about women writing about 'domestic' issues. Some days we write 'domestic', some days we write anything but...I never see it as a problem.
x
Domestic is every bit as important as the wider world issues. Get domestic wrong and it won't be long before either social services are involved or someone's blaming you for the social ills that your offspring are creating. 'Tis all linked.
Anyway, with my lot, the incredulity that people express: 'you've got six kids, & you write..?!?' always cheers me up... :)
Male poets/writers rarely get asked as they (and I know this is a bag of worms) are not usually the primary care givers. I am here: my husband works in Dublin, so leaves early, comes home late and I do all the 'domestic stuff' around the constraints of the kids' school days/activities, as well as fitting in the CW classes and trying to vaguely keep
on top of the clotheswashing/feeding. My house is a mess, but I really don't care: they're happy and I've got a life... juggle, juggle, juggle :)
Very well put! I'm off to vaguely keep on top of things here...some days more on top than others...
x
I'll listen tomorrow when I'll have peace as the men of the house will be at the Edinburgh derby game.
But you know already that I think you are marvel, and as Quentin Crisp said "after 5 years no more dust settles."
And it's true what they say, if you want something done ask a busy person.
Lovely A, a wee smile here :)
Barbara, enjoyed the show lots - and the interviewer! ; )
And hat's off for your mighty fine juggling... good on you!
Post a Comment