About “Tony” & “The Circus”

1. What was your motivation for writing “Tony” & “The Circus”?

Both are narrative poems telling stories from my remembered past. “The Circus” about an event that disappointed me as a child, and “Tony” about an event in which my teenage self disappoints me as an older woman.

2. What challenges—if any—did you have writing your poems?

Both are simple narrative poems, so the challenge was to make them read well as a poem rather than just a story.

3. What is your favourite line—if any—in “Tony”?

I think that would be his own words: “‘Garage Mechanic, that’s not bad’, he said.” which I think is an amusing and evocative way to express his feelings about class.

4. What is your favourite line—if any—in “The Circus”?

“flashing their rainbowed hooves,”

5. What do you want people to walk away with after reading “Tony” & “The Circus”?

I think both are about disappointments of different kinds, so I’d like people to understand that. 

6. Is there anything else you would like to talk about regarding “Tony” & “The Circus” that hasn’t been asked?

From “The Circus”, some thoughts about the exotic dreams we all have as children and how reality inevitably disappoints. “Tony”, I think, is very much ‘of its time’. I’m not sure that such a conversation would happen at a student party now. But maybe I’m mistaken, given the predominance of ‘Old Etonians’ still in place and coming up in British government maybe class still divides students even though Uni has become apparently ubiquitous, many are excluded—and so novel where they do come through.

Reading

1. What are you currently reading?

‘Fallen Skies’ by Philippa Gregory.

2. Do you have a favourite book? If so, what is it?

‘Lucky Jim’ by Kingsley Amis.

3. What is your favourite poet or author, if any?

Poet D.H. Lawrence.

4. Do you gravitate towards reading genres outside the ones you write?

I tend to go to authors of books I’ve liked in the past.

Writing

1. Why do you write?

So many reasons! With narrative poems, I think an urge to record, with political poems, anger, but I also enjoy the challenge of ekphrastic and writing to a prompt.

2. What do you love about being a poet?

Just a way of self-expression and an outlet for anger.

3. What time of the day do you write, and do you have a writing routine?

Usually mornings, but no routine.

4. Where do you get your ideas from?

Memories, current affairs prompts.

5. How long does it take you to write your projects?

It varies. Sometimes I’m still editing a poem after years, but probably a couple of weeks on average.

6. What advice would you give to other authors/writers/poets?

Just do it!

7. What project(s) are you currently working on?

I have a couple of ekphrastic poems on the go and one related to political events.