Can you tell us about yourself?
I
am a musician, a professor of music, a poet and artist. As my music
webpage [http://www.marilynnmair.com]
reads: "For more than three
decades Marilynn Mair has played music across the
globe, recorded over a dozen solo CDs, published two method books,
written countless columns, and taught as a Professor of Music at Roger
Williams University. She has dedicated herself to establishing the
mandolin as an instrument of importance, for her lifetime and the
future."
Before
I was a mandolinist I was a poet, and in the past few years I have
taken up writing again and combined it with photography to create my
blog "Celebrating a Year". [http://mairmusic.wordpress.
I live in
the USA, although I spend a considerable amount of time each year in
Brazil, as that is where my musical heart lies. In the USA I am a musician and a professor
of music, specializing in music of the Americas. In Brazil I am a
bandolimista.
We’re happy that you have been part of Poets Rally as a participant,
what has driven you to where you are in this particular community?
Jingle
found my blog TWO years ago and invited me to join the Rally. I
have participated in almost every one since. I have many online
friendships developed through the Rally, and the number of people
reading my poems has greatly increased.
How long have you been blogging? Do you think being part of a poetry
community contributes to your creative writing?
My
blog will be 3 years old on October 16th of this year. Being part of a
community certainly keeps me serious and timely in my posts, especially
my weekly poem, knowing that I now have subscribers and regular readers.
Why poetry? Do you write fiction too?
I'm
not sure why, but I have always been a poet, since I was a child. It's
just how the world makes sense to me. I love to read fiction, but I
can't write it at all. I'm not good at coming up with the details that
establish a location or a character's motivation.
Please share 3 to 5 blog links you enjoy reading
most, give 1 or 2 sentences to tell why you love their creative process.
My favorite
blogs are written by my favorite bloggers. In no special order they are:
Jamie
Dedes [http://musingbymoonlight.com]
I love her poetic style, the
variety of her posts, and the information she has taken it upon herself
to give us on the larger world of writers and writing. Her own poetry
often leaves me breathless.
Charles
Martin [http://slpmartin.wordpress.
Sharmishtha Basu aka Trisha
[http://mydomainpvt.wordpress.
How do you know when a poem is done? your own
experiences need to be shared here...
I
write formal poetry, that is, poems using ancient formal structures, so
there is a predetermined endpoint when I set out. For example, when I
am writing a sonnet, I need 14 lines, 10 syllables to the line, with a
particular rhyme scheme. I choose the form that I feel suits the subject
that's on my mind from a selection of five-- sonnet, villanelle,
decima, rondeau, or pantoum. Each has different challenges. When I have
the form roughed out, then I go back and fine tune my word choice
to make my point as clear as possible. I also try to make my work
universal-- I don't complain about my personal boyfriend, but rather on
aspects anyone with a bad or good or exasperating mate could identify
with. Also, my poem has to be posted each week by Thursday, latest,
so I can't be too fussy. Sometimes, but not often, I will continue to
change w/ a poem after it is posted. Ends are harder to determine than
beginnings. I had to give up free verse for that reason-- there is
always more to say.
How do you decide when a poem is "good"? Do you redo your own poems
after they’re posted? it could be poem someone else written...
I
give that up to my readers, deciding if something is "good".. Some
poems turn out better than others, like some dinners, or some concerts,
or some sports competitions. But we keep writing, cooking, performing,
playing. Because my blog is to celebrate every day as it happens I don't
repost old work.
Do you think music and poetry are related? Why?
Naturally, as I am
a musician and a poet. It has to do with rhythm and flow through time.
What issues are closed to your heart? Women’s rights,
child abuses, etc.…name one…
I'm
an artist, so there are many personal issues-- getting more people to
hear and like the mandolin, getting Brazilian Choro more exposure in the
world outside Brazil, getting my students to understand and appreciate
classical music and world music more fully. Other than that it's more a
matter of hoping everyone can have the freedom to be the best that they
can be, without needing to fight for survival, for enough to eat, or for
a safe space to freely speak.
What’s your other hobbies besides writing? Do you have pets? Give us a
picture if you own a pet.
Photography,
travel. No pets now, my travel precludes it.
Please list your blog links below, share 1 or 2 poems
that represents best of your poetry talent…
My music page is :
marilynn mair mandolin [http://www.marilynnmair.com]
My writing blog is; Celebrating A Year [http://mairmusic.wordpress.
Here are two recent poems of mine I
especially like (there are 154 and counting):
she said when we are young we love
as we grow older it seems we’ve
forgotten how we could believe
in grace placing our heads above
our hearts the great tragedy of
wisdom oh would that I could fall
again without fear hearing all
the muses sing triumphantly
still sure that fortune will foil the
scattering winds of betrayal
as we grow older it seems we’ve
forgotten how we could believe
in grace placing our heads above
our hearts the great tragedy of
wisdom oh would that I could fall
again without fear hearing all
the muses sing triumphantly
still sure that fortune will foil the
scattering winds of betrayal
these ancient trees have weathered
many storms
their gnarled branches speak of victories
hard won against a power that deforms
then moves on leaving wounds for memories
as I have felt the forces of despair
lashing away the roots of my substance
I ponder on these trees remaining there
to leaf out despite nature’s violence
for I find myself here against all odds
still standing looking forward in the fray
not falling to betrayal that defrauds
the promise of blue skies though miles away
fate has the power to upend truth yet
my steadfast heart holds dreams I won’t forget
their gnarled branches speak of victories
hard won against a power that deforms
then moves on leaving wounds for memories
as I have felt the forces of despair
lashing away the roots of my substance
I ponder on these trees remaining there
to leaf out despite nature’s violence
for I find myself here against all odds
still standing looking forward in the fray
not falling to betrayal that defrauds
the promise of blue skies though miles away
fate has the power to upend truth yet
my steadfast heart holds dreams I won’t forget
Your readers can explore the different form
by selecting links from the RH column on my blog.
