OUR POETRY ARCHIVE
FEATURED POET OF THE MONTH
ALICJA KUBERSKA: What does poetry mean to you?
SUNITA
PAUL: What poetry means to me
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Poetry,
The best way to express my
feelings,
To unwrap my inhibitions,
Outburst of my emotions,
Also teaches me in worldly
dealings.
Poetry,
Means to banish war and strife,
Give freedom to each life,
To break rules and set free,
To aim what you wannabe.
Poetry,
Can save someone depressed,
Convey your love so far compressed,
Words can give solace and peace of
mind
Remind of the memories you left
behind.
Poetry,
Is a form of life for me,
When I get hurted by thee,
Its a shelter where I always long
to be,
And helps a new revelation of me.
ALICJA KUBERSKA: What’s according to you the meaning of poetry in the contemporary
world?
SUNITA
PAUL: In today’s contemporary world,
poetry is a stress buster,a relief from the hectic monotonous
mechanicalLife.Poetry is shared worldwide to promote culture and literature and
spread the word of love and peace across the globe. It has helped me deal with
anger, frustration, heartbreak, headache, hopelessness, isolation, depression,
and more. It’s helped me be human. That’s the true value of poetry as far as
I’m concerned. Everything else is icing.
ALICJA KUBERSKA: Can you describe your creative process while writing a new
poem?
SUNITA
PAUL:
While writing a poem i just dive in the fantasy land and pen down all
what comes in my thoughts and dreams. Sometimes I feel something is likely to
happen and it comes out as a poetry.But generally i ink my heart ,my life
experiences and surroundings give me food for thought and that's how the
process of penning a poem goes on.
ALICJA KUBERSKA: Did it happen to you that a poem was just your dream?
SUNITA
PAUL:
Yes it did happen ,once I wrote a poem which was just a dream . I dreamt of my younger son who is far away
in the boarding school for his studies as though he was ill and crying for me.
As I woke up my pillows were wet with tears and my ink flowed in one of my
scribblings.
ALICJA KUBERSKA: Tell us about your inspiration. What’re the most important
subjects to you?
SUNITA
PAUL: My inspiration is my late Mom'. She
was a beautiful soul who loved to pen up her feelings in her diary . I was very
much influenced by her and followed her example which lead me to the place
where I'm today. Womanhood, Feminism, Life, Romance, Erotica are the subjects
very important to me.
MARIA MIRAGLIA: Which were the emotions
that inspired your first verses?
SUNITA
PAUL: It happened after a day or two
when my mom' passed away . I was missing her so badly that I started writing
some lines dedicated to her and this became my passion thereafter.
MARIA MIRAGLIA: Was your aspiration to become a poet or did all happen by chance?
SUNITA
PAUL: My aspiration to become a poet
started after I joined Facebook.You can also think that it all happened by
chance when one night Deborah Brookes Langford,an eminent poet from USA, dropped
by me and said she loves my scribblings and would like to get a collaborative
poetry collection with her.I was always passionate about writing and since the
day passions became my profession too.
MARIA MIRAGLIA: Who is the first person you read your poems to and why?
SUNITA
PAUL: The first person I read my poems
is my husband because he is my real critic.He understands me and my feelings
very well so can easily point out my pros and cons. His honest criticism and
fine appreciation also gives me a high.
MARIA MIRAGLIA:
Have you published any poetic
anthology, if so what did you feel the first time you got it in your hands?
SUNITA
PAUL: Yes I have published two solo
poetry books,one from the US and the other from India.Also a story book
(collection of some amorous tales)is there in the stands..I have also three
books in collaboration with Deborah Brookes Langford from the US and two with
Dr Shivputra Kanade from India.I have been featured in at least more than
thirty anthologies and edited twenty seven in the round. Now the number maybe
overwhelming but the first baby is always special..So when I hold my first book
Inked with love,it gives me a heavenly pleasure.It also happens when I get the
first book published here in India,Careless Whispers makes me feel immensely
proud of myself.
MARIA MIRAGLIA: Who are the poets you prefer reading? Do you get inspiration from
them?
SUNITA
PAUL: Wordsworth’s poems inspired me to write in a rhythmic way. He
helped me shape up my identity and style. “Fill your paper with the breathings
of your heart."I have learnt to ink with love from him.
I love Emily Dickinson’s poetry as well,as she says “Hope is the thing
with feathers that perches in the soul — and sings the tunes without the words
— and never stops at
Robert
Frost’s “The woods are lovely, dark
and deep. But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep."
Langston
Hughes still continues boosting my
spirits high through his awesome poetry which speaks out loud.....”Hold fast to
dreams for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly."
When John Keats says, “A thing of beauty is a joy forever; its
loveliness increases; it will never pass into nothingness."
But I'm most influenced by Maya Angelou and her poetry.
“You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may tread me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise. “
These lines are my inspiration.I
love her each and every poem be it, “I know why the caged bird sings Or”The
Phenomenal Woman”.
She taught me,
“I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.”
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?
SUNITA
PAUL: I write the simple language of the
heart and try to reach each reader's soul with my scribes.I cannot express
myself and my feelings in difficult words which needs a dictionary or a
thesaurus to decipher.
APRILIA ZANK: What kind of poems do you write mostly? Do you have recurring
themes, or are all your poems unique?
SUNITA
PAUL:
I write generally poems on love, life and literature. My subjects vary
often but I try to write on love or womanhood the most. Life gives me
experiences which I experiment with my ink. Though I have recurring themes but
my style is unique and that's what makes me different.
APRILIA ZANK: Do you think your poetry is
typically feminine / masculine? If yes, in what way?
SUNITA
PAUL: Not necessarily my pennings are
feminine but yes I do celebrate womanhood through my scribes
APRILIA ZANK: Do
you write mostly about yourself, or do you also have an open eye /ear for the
issues of the world?
SUNITA
PAUL: I write about myself and my
life,my nostalgic past and present heartbreaks. I celebrate my being a woman,
my rise and fall,my ups and downs of life and love. But yes sometimes the
present scenario and the surroundings make me pen down some poems.It can be
racial discrimination,women empowerment or child abuse,environmental issues.
LEYLA IŞIK:
In what way is your poetry different from that of other poets?
SUNITA
PAUL: My poems are unique because they
are inked with my heart,penned by love. They are reflections of my soul so you
will find them unique from other poets. They belong to me completely me. I
write generally poems related to my life or the experiences gathered so they
cannot be found elsewhere. Life throws at me experiences which I experiment
with my ink.
LEYLA IŞIK:
What are the main factors to make poetry real poetry?
SUNITA
PAUL: There are no such rules or factors
to make a real poetry. But yes some points we can keep in our mind as we ink
with love,
Message
What message are you trying to get
across in your poem?
What are you trying to say?
The message of your poem is the
most important part.
It could be something as simple as
your love of cupcakes, or it could be something more complex, like a
relationship. Whatever it is, your message should be clear without stating the
obvious or patronising the reader.
You can use visual language in your
poem to explain to the reader what’s happening without making it blindingly
obvious.
The layout of your poem can
reinforce this message further…
Voice/Tone
The voice and tone of a poem is incredibly
important and can change how it makes the reader feel.
Voice is important in everything
that you write, and poetry is no different.
You could write something in a
colloquial way, an old-fashioned way, a funny way, a serious way, a sarcastic
way…in any way you like. The important thing is to make sure that the tone
you’ve chosen fits the poem and the message you want to get across. Don’t write
something in a serious way if you’re trying to be funny, and don’t go overboard
with the jokes if you’re trying to be serious.
Rhyme Scheme (or Lack of)
Spread the word: poetry doesn't
have to rhyme!
There’s a common misconception that
poems have to rhyme. A lot of classic and well-known poems do. It’s true that
if you want something that will stick in people’s heads or sound good read
aloud rhymes help. But they’re not necessary.
A lot of modern poetry doesn’t
rhyme, and it still works just fine. If you force your poem to rhyme, the
reader/listener will be able to tell. The important thing in poetry isn’t whether
or not it rhymes, it’s whether or not it resonates.
The important thing in poetry isn't
whether or not it rhymes, it's whether or not it resonates
Form and structure
Some poets have their preferences
for particular structures, others prefer to write with a lack of structure.
Write to whatever form fits your
poem and writing style the best. It may take you several drafts of a poem to
find the right form for it, but that’s ok!
Point of view
Whose perspective are you writing
your poem from?
Are you writing it in first,
second, or third person?
The perspective you write your poem
from can dramatically change its meaning and impact on the reader.
LEYLA IŞIK: Do you think imagery is important
in poetry? Where does the importance of imagery begin in a poem, where does it
end?
SUNITA
PAUL Yes I feel imagery is important in
poetry. Imagery in poetry generally functions as the poem’s backbone or
grounding rod because images are used to evoke a reader’s gut-level response. When
the poet starts exploring the subject or the theme of the poetry to explain the
background scenes then the use of imagery begins. In the summary the poet
should use the five senses as imagery and end up well.
LEYLA IŞIK: What are the most used types of
poetry in your country?
SUNITA PAUL: In India poetry is written in different regional languages
with each poet portraying his/her feelings in the respective mother tongue
language.The poetry reflects diverse spiritual traditions within India. In
particular, many Indian poets have been inspired by mystical experiences.Poetry
is the oldest form of literature and has a rich written and oral tradition. Patriotism,Mythological,Romance,Nature,Peace,
Humanity etc are the main themes used in Indian poetry.
LEYLA IŞIK:
What’s important to be a good poet? To write good poems!
SUNITA
PAUL:
To be a good poet one can follow the
simple tips:
Ø Choosethe subjects which attract you most.
Ø Write in simple words and use imagery in form of your five
senses
Ø Find the best suitable time for writing.
Ø If you get stuck up somewhere while writing,stop, take a
break,walk or listen to your favourite song or wash hair.
Ø Read a lot, revise and persevere
Ø Let your work be open to interpretation
Ø Keep writing daily
Ø Participate in as many writing contests without a care to
win. We can learn from our failures too.
Ø Read out loud your poems
Ø Be ready for criticism
Ø Celebrate the ordinary and be choosy
Ø Write about subjects that matter to you
LEYLA IŞIK: Who are the most important poets
and their main properties nowadeys?
SUNITA
PAUL:
u Rabindranath Tagore
u Yeats
u William Shakespeare
u William Wordsworth
u Rumi
u John keats
u Pablo Neruda
u Emily Dickinson
u Tennyson
u Maya Angelou
u Langston Hughes
Some of the greatest poets of all
times
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?
SUNITA
PAUL: I see the beautiful nature,god's
creation and taste the salty ocean waters alongwith the pleasant breeze,smell
pretty flowers hear the thunders roar and feel that I'm alive and being alive
is awesome. In my poetry, I see human soul's cravings,taste my beloved's kisses,smell
my loved one's fragrance hear mankind's cries and feel how survival is an
integral part of our existence.
DEBORAH
BROOKS LANGFORD: What is the mood of
your poetry? (Or How does it make you feel?)
SUNITA
PAUL: My poems generally carry a nostalgic
feeling whenI write romantic theme based poetry. It's all about melancholic
mood. Sometimes I pen down the thoughts of a crazy lover who can break all
barriers to reach her / his love. In some poems of mine there is a lusty
feeling of the cravings of a beloved for the lover.It is an erotic mood. When
it is non romantic then I generally write to inspire women in general or spread
the vibes of love and peace across the globe. It's generally motivational or
inspirational mood. When I write about something which agitated me somehow be
it women molestation or child abuse or the after effects of war it is the anger
mood which reflects in my poem. In some of my poems where I raise a voice in
protection of environment or the nation,there is the protest mood working out. The
mood varies from poetry to poetry and all depends on the theme, setting,tone
and characters.
DEBORAH
BROOKS LANGFORD: In your poetry who
is the speaker of the poem? Are you speaking to yourself or to others?
SUNITA
PAUL: In my poems I generally speak to
myself or about myself. Sometimes I do have a dialogue kind of set up in theme.
DEBORAH BROOKES LANGFORD: What is the message of your poetry? What messages do your poetry convey?
SUNITA
PAUL: I convey the message of spreading
love and light across the globe and stop hatred and unrest amongst all.I speak
my heart out and share the words of peace to one and all. Some poems of mine
are written to inspire women empowerment. I also write to banish all evil and
wrong beliefs and try to touch each one's heart whoever read me.
DEBORAH
BROOKS LANGFORD: Does
the internet and social media contribute to the success of your poetry? Is this
the reason you write for?
SUNITA
PAUL Yes I truly agree to this fact
that social media and internet is the main source of my being a writer today. I
am successful as a writer and editor and publisher only due to internet
especially Face book. Had you my dear sister Deborah Brookes Langford never
read my poetry and come up with the idea of getting me published, I would never
have taken writing so seriously. I owe my whole hearted gratitude to you
forever. Later in India when Dr Shivputra Kanade came across my writing and
wanted to publish me another turning point of my life came. I not only got name
and fame but also I started my Publication House and now I'm helping budding
authors get published.
NILAVROONILL 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?
SUNITA
PAUL: My personal experience with OPA
goes a long way back. Deborah Brookes Langford introduced me here and i was
featured regularly in every month's issues. Being featured here in OPA is a
honour itself because our Poetry archive is one of the most esteemed e zine I
have come across. The exclusive editorial board and the awesome dedicated team
always brings out the best. Lastly it's all due to one person NILAVRO Nill
Shoovro whom we call Nill , it's due to his brilliant idea and tremendous
hard-work that OPA has reached such scaling heights. Being featured here is an
honour always and showcased as the poet of the month gives you a feeling of
high. I feel extremely elated and glad to have been bestowed upon this honour
by Opa, Nil and team. My best wishes for more successful endeavours in the near
or far future. Thank you.
Author, editor and a publisher, Sunita Paul hails from the
city of joy Kolkata. Mother of two sons, she lives with her husband. Sunita is
recipient of several awards of high distinction both from India and abroad.
Felicitated at different literary events, Sunita has authored six books and
edited more than thirty anthologies. Recently she has ventured into Publication
and AABS PUBLISHING HOUSE is now shining in all places .
