Interview with Leah Jaymes Truitt, Spectacular Saturday, February 18, 2023
A happy group of poets gathered for our Spectacular Saturday Open Mic on February 18, 2023. The participants were Jill England, Tamara Hattis, Richard Aguirre, Leah Truitt, Irene Sinopole and Portia Choi.
The link to the video is:
Passcode:@2MKV@xX
Leah Jaymes Truitt read three very moving poems that evening. We are excited she agreed to share one of them below:
Endings; burn the page
Amble through the ink.
Let it drip upon the page,
pool and run in rivulets
as you slink across the stage.
Are we bound by circumstance,
tentatively entwined in twine,
stitched sweetly at the seams
with rosemary and thyme?
Let me rise
and rise again,
before we all fall down.
I will burn the pages
and wear the ashes as my crown.
Q. What inspired you to write your poem? What is its back story?
A. I wrote this poem my senior year of college. At that time in my life, I truly felt as if I was starting down a new path. As I wrote this poem, it made me think of how far I have come, the relationships that I had made and had to leave behind, and how I was truly starting on a “new chapter,” in my life. A lot of the poetry I write is very introspective and has to do with the emotions that I am feeling at a certain point in time; this poem in particular was meant to represent new beginnings and how we always have the opportunity to rewrite our own fates.
Q. Do you like to read poetry? If you do, what poets have influenced you? Who have messages you connect with, or styles you admire?
A. I love to read poetry! One of the most recent books of poetry I have been reading is Crush by Richard Siken, but I love modern poetry that represents the moments we all feel during our lives. Poetry is such a great way to represent the emotions that we all feel and it is a great way to connect with one another. Writing is truly a way to see the world through another’s eyes, but it also is a way to see how, no matter how much the world changes, humans all experience the same feelings, trials, and journeys.
Q. What advice would you give to other folks wanting to create poems? How do you make a poem? Do you have a special place you go to, or music you listen to, etc.? Give us a glimpse into your creative process.
A. One of the best tips I have for writing is to always carry a notebook with you. You never know when inspiration will strike; sometimes it comes from the most random places. I can’t tell you how many times I have had to improvise and write a poem on a post-it note, an old receipt, or on the edge of a tissue because I forgot my notebook at home. I also think it is important to give yourself time to write and to enjoy all the little things that life has to offer. Sometimes all you need is a cup of tea and a breath of fresh air to get into the writing mood. For me, writing comes from my experiences. The words come from the joy or pain that I am feeling and writing is a way for me to process all of the experiences in my life. It is cathartic to write, and it gives me insight into how I have grown. I love to look back at the poetry I have written; it’s like looking back into an old reflection.
Leah’s instagram tag is @scribblingsprite
and this is the link to her poetry collection on Amazon.
