TBR [to be read] is a semi-regular, invitation-only interview series with authors of newly released/forthcoming, interesting books who will tell us about their new work as well as offer tips on writing, stories about the publishing biz, and from time to time, a recipe.
We don’t expect an elevator pitch from a poet, but can you tell us about your work in 2-3 sentences?
Seed Celestial covers
topics from climate change, women's issues, immigration, and gun violence, and
it does it, I hope, with humility and compassion. Through the
mother-daughter relationship, this book celebrates the wonders and the
journey of bringing children into this world even as it grapples with its
increasing disorder and disconnect. I think it encompasses a lot of what many
of us are feeling right now – anxiety, uncertainty, and awe in our moment.
Which poem/s did you most enjoy writing? Why?
I think I most enjoyed writing Cherchez la Femme and the Demeter poems. I remember clearly writing
Cherchez la Femme because I was so
full of anger and outrage at the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation hearing. I remember texting with a friend who told me
the history of the phrase “cherchez la femme” and its meaning (find the woman).
I had recently finished reading Terrence Hayes’s American Sonnets for my Past and Future Assassin. There’s a poem in
that collection that begins with the line “But there never was a black male
hysteria” and it’s just genius, that poem, the way it sheds light on systematic
racism. It wasn’t a huge leap from there to think about that line in terms of
systematic sexism. Because I had limited hour to two of childcare, I wrote the
poem Cherchez la Femme quickly at a
crowded, communal table at the library, and it was one of those rare moments
for me where a number of things could have been happening around me, but I would
have been oblivious to it. It felt so good to channel my anger into something.
I also enjoyed writing the Demeter poems and those came easily for me as well.
I’ve loved the myth of Demeter and Persephone since I read it in fourth grade. It
felt very natural for me to apply that myth, which was how the seasons were
explained in ancient times, to climate change. What if climate change was the
ultimate revolt of Mother Nature against her children? And since it’s a mother
speaking, it would have to be complicated. It would be a series.
And which poem/s gave you the most trouble, and why?
The poem that gave me the most trouble was Ethnic Arithmetic. It’s a contrapuntal
poem (meant to be read three ways) and it was Afaa Michael Weaver at Bread Loaf
who suggested that I put the original poem into that form. I wrote several
attempts before I got it to where I wanted it.
Tell us a bit about the highs
and lows of your book’s road to publication.
This is my second earnest try at a manuscript. I had one a few
years back that I sent out. I even got an acceptance for it, but it wasn't a
good deal for me as the writer, and now I'm really glad I didn't publish then
because only a few of those poems are still in the current manuscript.
Of this manuscript, Seed
Celestial, I sent it out 68 times and was rejected over 40 times. (There
are still some presses/prizes I haven't heard back from). At one point shortly
before it got picked up for publication, I had a professional editor, Wyn Cooper, look at it mostly for that boost in self
confidence that I needed to send it out. He gave me the "ok, good to
go", a much-valued pep talk, and encouraged me to keep sending it out
knowing the sobering mathematical odds of publishing a poetry book. But he had
confidence and that helped me to keep at it.
What’s your favorite piece of
writing advice?
When you get stuck, read.
My favorite writing advice is
“write until something surprises you.” What surprised you in the writing of
this book?
Maybe the question is who surprised me. I think Lucretius
surprised me. Lucretius’s De Rerum Natura
provides the structure for the manuscript. I had read it in graduate school in
my MFA program at the University of Maryland and loved it, but I don’t want to
give the false impression that I have time with 2 kids under 5 to often dwell
on ancient texts. It must’ve always been in my head and while I was struggling
to order the manuscript, something nudged me to get the book off the shelf and
re-read it. I did, and when I came back to the manuscript, there were key words
from my highlights of Lucretius like seed, earth, animal, mother, and celestial
that began to impose a shape on the poems. I wrote them on post-it notes and
collected the sections. I debated many times about whether or not to include
the quotes from Lucretius to open each of the 5 sections and I’m so glad I kept
them in. All of this was practically and logistically very hard to do while 8
months pregnant with my second child and carrying for my then 2-year-old. The
self-imposed deadline for putting the manuscript together was my son’s due
date.
What’s something about your book that you want readers to
know?
I wanted this book to be artistic, formally dexterous, and accessible. It’s important to me
that people who don’t normally read poetry might be introduced to this book. I
hope it resonates with readers of all types. The world can use more
poetry. I think it can speak across
political divides to what unites us and we need more of that now.
Inquiring foodies and hungry
book clubs want to know: Any food/s associated with your book?
I think any delicious Cuban food
would be appropriate when reading this book.
*****
READ MORE ABOUT THIS AUTHOR: https://www.sararburnett.com/
ORDER THIS BOOK FOR YOUR OWN
TBR STACK: https://www.autumnhouse.org/books/seed-celestial/
READ A POEM FROM THIS BOOK, “Cherchez
la Femme”:
https://lprjournal.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/lpr_summer2019-online-123.pdf