ALICJA KUBERSKA: What does poetry mean to you?
TARANA TURAN RAHIMLI: For me, poetry is
a divine word. This is a gift from God, who has no connection with the Earth.
If God did not give poetic talent, I could not write a poem. Poetry is like an
angelic song. And we compose this song with the help of God. In the eastern literature
poets are valued as prophets. After the Prophets, poets are considered to be
close to God. I think that this is not an accident. This is confirmation of my
attitude to poetry.
ALICJA KUBERSKA: What’s according to you the meaning
of poetry in the contemporary world?
TARANA TURAN RAHIMLI:
In my interviews I frequently face this question. I think poetry is the
biggest policy. Poetry is the best way to influence the deep layers of human
consciousness. When political speeches did not affect
public consciousness, the rulers used the influence of poetry. This took place
throughout history. The most influential and talented poets were invited to
live in palaces. Because they must serve the policy of their country directly
with their verses. Today poetry is not only to relax our soul, our taste. It
has a deeper meaning. In times of wars, poetry is the best way to influence the
human heart and the human brain. In the era of wars, we must use the power of
poetry. In my opinion, the meaning of poetry is important to direct for this
purpose.
ALICJA KUBERSKA: Can you describe
your creative process while writing a new poem?
TARANA TURAN RAHIMLI: It's very simple.
Most of my poems I wrote in the night. And I do not think that I'll sit at the
writing desk and write poetry now. One topic makes me think. And one day...
When I go to bed at midnight, one line of an unwritten poem
"trembles" my brain, and then another line is born ... and I have to
get up and write this poem that does not allow me to sleep. All my poems have
gone through this creative process.
ALICJA KUBERSKA: Did it happen to
you that a poem was just your dream ?
TARANA TURAN RAHIMLI: It was so, I wanted
to write a poem about a specific topic (about my mother), but I could not
write. My fear that I could not write a decent poem about my mother, prevented
me. Later this poem became my dream. This poem still remains as a dream.
ALICJA KUBERSKA: Tell us about your inspiration. What’re the most important
subjects to you?
TARANA TURAN RAHIMLI: My
source of inspiration is my Motherland, my family and God's love. The theme of
my poems is different. I do not choose a topic, my observation of life implies
a topic.
MARIA MIRAGLIA: Which were the
emotions that inspired your first verses?
TARANA TURAN RAHIMLI: I
wrote my first poem about the world. Then I was 14 years old. The poem was
called: World, I do not yet know you. Indeed, then I did not know the world
well. And I've thought about this a lot. Then I wrote poems about the rain.
Then love poems ...
MARIA MIRAGLIA: Was
your aspiration to become a poet or did all happen by chance?
TARANA TURAN RAHIMLI: I have loved
literature since childhood. But I never thought about becoming a poet. In my
opinion, poetry is not a profession that can be chosen . I do not think this is a coincidence. There is no
coincidence in life. Everything we live in is what God knows for us. We call
coincidences what we do not know.
MARIA MIRAGLIA: Who is the first
person you read your poems to and why?
TARANA TURAN RAHIMLI: : First I read my poems to my daughters. Because they are
very young. And the idea of a young man is always fresh, so their thoughts
interest me more.
MARIA MIRAGLIA: Have you published
any poetic anthology, if so what did you feel the first time you got it in your
hands?
TARANA TURAN RAHIMLI: : Yes, the anthology
of poetry, which I first published, was called Steps (1996). I was chairman of
the Poetry Association called Steps. The name of the anthology was the same as
the name of the association. At that time I was very young, and my first book of
poems had not yet been published. It was so nice when I first took this
anthology in my hands ... As if my book was published. This joy can not be
expressed in words. I was very proud of my work.
MARIA MIRAGLIA: Who are the poets
you prefer reading? Do you get inspiration from them?
TARANA TURAN RAHIMLI:
There are many poets and writers in the world literature, which I love..
It is natural. Because I teach world literature at the university. But my most favourite
poets are in Azerbaijan Mohammed Fizuli, in Europe Victor Hugo.
APRILIA ZANK: How important is
accessibility of meaning to you? Do you challenge the readers to work hard to
decipher your poems, or do you prefer transparency of meaning?
TARANA TURAN RAHIMLI: Of
course, every poet wants the reader to understand it. But when writing poetry,
he does not think about it, he remains committed to his artistic style and the
requirements of the topic. I am also. I do not care if
the reader understands my poem easily, or vice versa. The authors do not think
about such problems during the creative process. But, like all poets, for me
the love of readers is also important.
APRILIA ZANK: What kind of poems
do you write mostly? Do you have recurring themes, or are all your poems
unique?
TARANA TURAN RAHIMLI: It
is difficult to answer this question. This can tell the reader, literary
criticism, how much I repeat myself or not. Only I can say that there is no
limit to the theme in my work. Sometimes I can turn again to the same topic.
But this will not be a repetition of the same poem that I wrote earlier on this
topic.
APRILIA ZANK: Do you think your
poetry is typically feminine / masculine? If yes, in what way?
TARANA TURAN RAHIMLI: In
past centuries, such an idea was formed in society: women can not write poetry
(romance, etc.). George Sand (Amantine Lucille Aurora Dupin), Sisters
Charlotte, Emily and Anna Bronte, Louise May Olcott, George Elliot (Mary Ann
Evans) and others, wrote their work under the names of men. But their
creativity is stronger, despite what is feminine. I think that women write
differently. They are mysterious when they write, and they deeply touch the
human soul. This is due to femininity. I also write a woman, and my poems are
feminine.
APRILIA ZANK: Do you write mostly
about yourself, or do you also have an open eye /ear for the issues of the
world?
TARANA TURAN RAHIMLI: If
a writer writes only about himself, it is his inability. All my poems have
messages to the world. Even in my love poems. A smart reader can immediately
understand this.
APRILIA ZANK: In what way is your
poetry different from that of other poets?
TERANE TURAN REHIMLI: I have no idea about this.
Or I do not want to move away from humility.
LEYLA IŞIK: What are the main factors to make poetry real
poetry?
TARANA TURAN RAHIMLI:
The real poem should be sincere,
the poet should be able to convince the reader. The poet cannot convince the
reader of the truth, in which he himself does not believe. Therefore, the most
important factor is sincerity. The poet must write down those things that he
knows very well. He should not confuse the reader with a topic he does not know
deeply. The poet should not fit into the time frame. Real poetry marches ahead
of time.
The poet should not even repeat his thoughts, he
should always try to say a new word.
LEYLA IŞIK: Do you think imagery is important in poetry?
Where does the importance of imagery begin in a poem, where does it end?
TARANA TURAN RAHIMLI: : In my opinion, the image is very important in poetry.
However, the dynamics of this image does not recognize any boundaries.
LEYLA IŞIK:
What are the most used types of poetry in your country?
TARANA TURAN RAHIMLI: The most popular kind of poems in azerbaijan literature
is syllable.we are the nation which historically write on aruz and syllable
kind.but it is more interest to free poem last years and the number of these
poets increase.I also write the poems on two of them: on aruz and sullable.
LEYLA IŞIK:
What’s important to be a good poet? To write good poems?
TARANA TURAN RAHIMLI: To
be a good poet, you need to have a nice and wide heart. A good poet should be a
loyal person.
LEYLA IŞIK:
Who are the most important poets and their main properties nowadeys?
TARANA TURAN RAHIMLI: I
do not want to show specific names. But there are many important poets. They do
not write for glory, but write so that everyone will hear the voice of their
souls.
DEBORAH BROOKS LANGFORD:
Understanding poetry begins with visualizing the central images in the
poem. What do you see, taste, smell, hear, and feel? What is the imagery of
your poetry?
TARANA TURAN RAHIMLI: Of
course, poetry is a figurative thinking phenomenon. I live in poetry. For me, every poem has its own smell,
taste, voice and color. The drawings tell me about a magic world. The images of
my poetry are nature, Homeland, love, the world's various problems - in short,
the essence of life.
DEBORAH BROOKS LANGFORD:
What is the mood of your poetry? (Or How does it make you feel?)
TARANA TURAN RAHIMLI:
Many of my poems are pessimistic. But this does not mean that there is
no love for life in my poems., No passion, etc.
DEBORAH BROOKS LANGFORD: In
your poetry who is the speaker of the poem? Are you speaking to yourself or to
others?
TARANA TURAN RAHIMLI: I
always a speaker in my poems. Sometimes I speak for myself, and sometimes
for others
DEBORAH BROOKS LANGFORD:
What is the message of your poetry?
What messages do your poetry convey?
TARANA TURAN RAHIMLI:
The message of my poem is humanism and goodwill, the restoration of
justice in the world. Message to my poem - you can stop wars with poetry.
DEBORAH BROOKS LANGFORD:
Does the internet and social media contribute to the success of your
poetry? Is this the reason you write for?
TARANA TURAN RAHIMLI: Internet and social
media to ensure the success of each poet. In today's world without it it is
impossible to develop. Virtual dating and friendship with new friends are also
very important. Our friendship with many respected poets and writers began in
social networks. Literary sites often publish my poems, articles and poems are
published in anthologies. This is a great success. I believe these successes
will increase in the future.
NILAVRONILL SHOOVRO: Thank you so much dear poet for the interview.
We would like to know your personal experience with OPA as a literary web
journal. Would you like to share anything more with our readers?
TARANA TURAN RAHIMLI:
Thank you for taking the interview. The questions were interesting. I do
not know how much my answers will satisfy you. But I have tried to answer
sincerely. My personal experience with the OPA once again taught me that
literature - fulfils a great mission. The OPA Web-journal introduce world
poets and value their role in our lives.
I am proud to be a member of the OPA poetry family. I hope the OPA and
Azerbaijani poets will implement joint projects in the future. Thank you very much
for giving my poems on OPA web journal and anthology pages because you value
me. God bless you, literature angel Mr. NilavroNill Shoovro! I wish you great success in this sacred path.
Dr. TARANA TURAN RAHIMLI is
an Azerbaijani poet, writer, journalist, translator, literary critic, teacher,
academic, is an active member of the International Literary Agency in Turkey
and Azerbaijan. She is a PhD in Philology, Associate Professor of Azerbaijan
and World Literature Chair of Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University, author
of 7 books and more than 400 articles. She is the editor and reviewer of 20
monographs and poetry books.The work has been published in more than 15 Western
and Eastern countries. Her works were published in Azerbaijan, England, Italy,
Spain, USA, Germany, Belgium, Chile, Turkey, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan,
Tataristan, Uzbekistan and other countries. Poems and articles have been
published in many international sites around the world, on periodicals and in
anthologies.
