Contributor Spotlight Interview:
Kathy Watts
Kathy Watts writes children's science articles, speculative fiction, astrology, and poetry. She is also a serious fiberartist and karateka, having done both for over thirty years. A native of Baltimore, MD, she loves Los Angeles but lives near San Francisco. She recently released a collection of short form poetry through Nun Prophet Press entitled
1. Basho, Buson, or Issa? (No saying Shiki, even if that's the correct answer.)
I keep coming back to Basho.
2. Who is one person who has been a mentor to you in the short form community?
Jerome Berglund. After almost a year of freewheeling haiku on Twitter, he gave me the opportunity to jump into the deep end of the poetry pool. And the encouragement is ongoing.
3. Publications, where was your first and your most recent?
Probably Dragonfly, when Lorraine Harr was doing it (yes, a while back, late 1980s). Most recent is Heterodox Haiku #3. What fun!
4. Favorite horror movie or book, romance movie or book, writer or film director working in a language you can't fluently speak?
Akira Kurosawa. Throne of Blood and Ran come instantly to mind.
5. Favorite jazz, folk, blues singer or musician?
Oh! Judy Collins, Phil Ochs, Jerry Garcia, this list goes on ... Yo Yo Ma, whose playing is a full body motion.
6. Who's a great haiku or senryu poet whose work speaks to you that you’d like more people to be aware of?
Pls ask me again in about a year. I'm still sorting out who's who, and just about every day many of you repeatedly take my breath away.
7. Politically if you had the ability to fix one issue via policy changes what would it be?
We deserve a sane gun control policy. I understand, we Americans love our cars and our guns but the NRA should not be allowed to drive this conversation any longer. IMHO.
8. Describe a pet you treasure/d, your own or someone else’s.
Our family's first doggie, Candy (a Manchester toy terrier). I grew up and slept with.
9. What season do you feel you write best or most frequently and why?
Haven't done this much yet but I'm drawn to the end of seasons. Not so much early spring but the end of winter, for example. I think I inherited this sensitivity from my mother.
10. If you could nominate one poem (not your own) from the last year and its poet for an individual Touchstone award, who and what would they be?
Please see question #6. I feel squeaky new in this modern haiku world and am still feeling my way around. Social media is fantastic, exposing us to work in mags, blogs, chapbooks, podcasts from the world over. It's dazzling.
11. Who is one historical person whose activism or accomplishments especially inspire you, and why?
This may not be an appropriate answer, but the lives of Maurice and Katia Krafft (volcanologist/photographer team) have touched me deeply. They lived lives that few would dream of and died in Japan during an eruption. I can only hope they were doing what they loved.
12. What have you learned about writing poetry you wish you realized earlier?
Maybe just to never quit reading and writing poetry. All kinds of poetry. All the time.
13. One food, drink you adore?
Tea! (but the most memorable New Years meal I ever had was homemade tamales and champagne).
14. In your poems what bird, plant, weather pattern has appeared frequently?
Camellia. I am trying to branch out, but it's hard.
15. If you could get a roundtrip plane ticket and accommodations comped to any place, where would you visit?
Cairo. Got to go there on a tour in June 2000, and I'd go back in a heartbeat. Lately, though, the Shetlands (and the sheep) have been tugging at my heart.
Comments