by Sari Krosinsky
Daily Lobo
In the lyrical tradition of Sappho, Myria Mandell writes poetry with unfettered honesty. Her instinct for rich detail brings the reader inside the world of her family and relationships - a world both familiar and new.
The Daily Lobo interviewed Mandell, an Albuquerque poet who recently self-published a book of poetry, These Little Pieces of Me.
Though at times her poems could use more polish, their fresh perspective and vivid imagery make them a rewarding read. Mandell is a poet well worth keeping an eye on.
Daily Lobo: You just self-published a book of poetry. What made you decide to go that route?
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Myria Mandell: I had a lot of poems and my dad told me, "Instead of wasting time trying to get yourself published via publishing companies, why don't you just do it yourself?" One of my uncles did a genealogy book and gave it out to the relatives. He showed it to me and I thought, you know, I could do that.
DL: What was it like, collaborating with artists on making a book?
MM: Actually, that just came all by itself. When I first asked them, they were really excited to do it. They showed me some art they had and I liked it, but I think they wanted to make it more specific, more of a collaboration. So they said, "Why don't you make us copies of something you drew as a child and we'll see if we can incorporate them into something we do." They took this one, a very simple vase and flowers, and they created three different ones with a seasonal theme - one of them is autumn, one is summer and one is winter.
DL: You said you started writing when you were 10. What got you started so young?
MM: I don't know. I think it was a class project. We were learning about poetry and rhymes, and I wrote a few little poems. My dad showed one of my poems - it's called "Do you remember?" - to his friend who's a writer and he told me, never stop writing, always keep writing. And I did.
DL: A lot of your poetry seems very personal on the surface, but it also conveys a broader social message. When you write, do you think about doing it for the poetry itself, or do you think about having a broader message you're trying to convey to people?
MM: Mostly, it's from a very specific experience that I've had. But I think it relates to a lot of people on different levels. Everybody has their favorite for one reason or another. I think a lot of women like the poetry that I have about my ex-boyfriend, in chapter three. They've had relationships, and you know how your relationship just goes wrong, and you're so angry with the person, and you have to vent somehow. So that was my way. I only have one poem that had a political message. It's called "The Politicians." It's my little rant. Basically, you know how politicians are shady characters? It's about that.
DL: In "Half-Breed," you talk about straddling two cultural worlds. How have your cultural experiences influenced your poetry?
MM: In general, it's allowed me to adapt and to relate to different kinds of people. Even in this day and age, I think there are still some people who think, I'm white and there's those people over there. Or I'm Hispanic and there's those people over there. I feel like I can be more accepting of other people who are different from me, because of what I had to go through as I grew up, being kind of in between.
DL: Who are the people that have most influenced your poetry?
MM: In particular, Edgar Allen Poe. I love his use of alliteration, the silken, sad, uncertain. Also Anne Sexton. Her personal poetry has inspired me to look within myself and not be too embarrassed or too ashamed to write or share poems that are very personal.
Information about Myria Mandell's new book, These Little Pieces of Me, is available at http://www.geocities.com/myriatrini/poetry_book.
