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Articles /Interviews
A dialogue with the Canadian Poet Aurora Antonovic on
Love poetry, Writing Poems in
French and English, Visual Interpretations and Haiga
by
Dr. Amitabh Mitra
1.
Aurora, you are one of the most extensively published poets, you write in
French and English, Tell us about your early years in Canada and how they
influenced your writing of such beautiful poetry.
 I
grew up in a home where good literature was plentiful. My father bought
me a book a week from the time I was three years old until the time of
his death when I was eight. He even left behind an entire collection of
the classics for me. Here in Canada, we begin to learn to read and write
in kindergarten, and back when I went to school, it was pretty much the
norm to know how to read by grade one. Canadian schools teach poetry and
the arts generously, and we learn at least one Shakespearean play a year
beginning in high school, so I was exposed to a lot of great literature
early on.
2.
French influence is a global entity, there is a major part of Africa which
has embraced French culture and produces beautiful poetry in the French
Language. How does contemporary Canadian Poetry in the French Language
differ from the French Poetry in France?
Canadian
French is not as “pure”, if I can use that word, as the French of
France. However, French poetry thrives in Canada, as well as English
poetry. I like to write in French because I find it takes my mind on a
different journey than merely writing in English alone. No two languages
ever say exactly the same thing in the same manner, and certain poems,
to me, speak better in the French language than say the English.
3.
The best of Love Poetry comes from France, Ghazals in Urdu and of course
from your pen. It’s a feeling that encompasses and unites every being to
each other. Professional love poets are writing poetry because it is the
only creative effort that can sell, publishers would accept love poetry but
not about Tsunami or 9/11, what is your opinion on writing only love poetry?
I don’t write
love poetry solely, nor does love poetry seem particularly popular in
North America right now. In fact, it is extremely rare for a poet to
make a living off of poetry alone, and most of us have to have other
types of jobs in order to support our passion for verse.
Now while I don’t only write love poetry, I do tend to write a lot of
it, because poets write about what we know. Love poems are one of the
highest forms of verse, and since love is such a universal desire and
experience, love poetry is very natural to write.
4.
Visual interpretation of a poem is enticing. Please tell us about Haiga.
Have you thought of making a film on your poetry? Tell us about
experimenting with all forms and poetry.
Haiga is a
form of Japanese poetry that incorporates image with haiku or tanka. I
am also a visual artist, so blending art with poetry is very natural and
enjoyable for me. I find that a painting I am working on will influence
a poem, and poetry will inspire me to paint.
I have never thought of making a film about poetry, but I think the
prospect is an interesting one.
I enjoy every form of poetry, from sonnets, to free verse, to the
aforementioned Japanese forms. In fact, I cannot think of a type of
poetry that isn’t appealing.
5.
Love poetry in web based publication and its publication in beautiful print
books, which one do you favor, how can we enrich love poetry in print
publications, so that a gift of such a book becomes a possession for ever?
I have mixed
feelings about internet publishing. On the one hand, I enjoy the speed
and international flair of the internet, while on the other I like to
have a book of verse that I can hold in my hands and take out time and
time again to enjoy.
I believe that poetry could become popular again if it were taught more
extensively in schools, if an appreciation of the arts were fostered,
and if children were encouraged to become poets.
Illustrations and great visuals are the key to the appeal of any book,
be it love poetry, or books on any topic. Sometimes people, in today’s
hurried society, don’t want to take the time to devour a book unless
there are lots of eye-catching pictures to make one stop and take a look
at what else lies in that book. I have begun blogging, and have noticed
that when I intersperse my blog with images, people are more likely to
stop and read a poem. So, too, is it with poetry books.
6.
The Love poetry of Aurora Antonovic, How do we see it ten years from now?
I currently
have over two thousand poems in publication. I would like to see many
more thousands of poems in print in ten years’ time, including some
collections of verse. And I hope I will always write love poetry.
Poetry by Aurora Antonovic
March 5, 2006
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