SpotLight - Duende

     Welcome back to SpotLight, I’m Damian DeadLove. Got another great episode tonight, that I hope you’ll enjoy. This interview segment is meant for the DU community, as a way to get to know about the poet/poetess behind the writes.

      Our guest tonight is a poetess who calls the Netherlands home. Also, it’s the birthplace of the Van Halen brothers. So that’s a cool little fact. She’s been a member since, July of 2016.

      She’s a gifted writer bringing many different flavors to the table. She’s a rocker chick who knows good music. But most of all she’s a supportive soul. As I’m sure many of you know.

      Even sent me a cool picture from her local paper of a dedication to, Edward Van Halen, after his passing. Even wrote a poem about yours truly as a tribute piece. I’m so grateful to have met her. May I introduce the lovely, Duende. Round of applause for Duende..

      Duende, first off I wanna thank you for doing this interview with me. Really means a lot me, my friend. I appreciate you. I tried to do my homework, but it seems you’d rather remain a mystery. Except, you “set fire to the rain.” Which I’d agree.

      Question 1: Who are your influences, and how have they inspired your writing style?

      First and foremost: music : -) It's almost always a song that inspires me and gives birth to a verse. Or it's the other way around: I have an idea, start writing and a song comes to mind. Often bits & pieces of lyrics end up in a piece.

      There's also a poem by Warsan Shire called "For women who are difficult to love" that influenced me. It moved me so deeply, I realized I want to move people with my poetry too, evoke an emotion. Life and its struggles and love of course are a huge inspiration too. Thinking of it, I think I started writing after coming out of an abusive relationship.

      Last, but not least. There are some poets here that helped me evolve and grow as a writer. One (who unfortunately isn't here anymore) gave me some great tips & advice, taught me about enjambment and onomatopoeia and more importantly to leave things open to the imagination of the reader. Someone else, who masters assonance made me fall in love with assonance, made me quite addicted to it too. And I think this pretty much sums it up.

      Always love when the first answer is music. lol. I understand though, I too feed off music.  So those influences are infused in everyone of my writes. I’m here for that, I wanna move people through my work as well. You, lost me with the writing talk. lol. I’ve heard the words, just never practiced any of it knowingly. If I’ve done any of those things, it was by accident. I swear. lol.

      Question 2: Every writer has a sweet spot, where they know they can bring it. Where the subject matter just comes natural. Mine is observational writes. I’m terrible at love and erotic ink.  Just am, it’s not my comfort zone. My question is what do you consider your sweet spot, and where do you second guess yourself as a writer?
      
      Poetic terminology was something I never heard of either. It's nice to experiment with, but I write from the heart.

      Which brings me to your question. I feel quite comfortable with erotica and love me some word play, but I think my strength lies in the self category. The pieces where I lay bare my soul and pour my heart out, write openly about my painful past, the struggle with my eating disorder and the darkness and demons that haunt me. Even though it feels vulnerable releasing them into the ether. I don't feel comfortable with anger poems, anger being an emotion I can't feel or recognize. I wrote a few anger poems (something about comfort zones) but it feels like giving birth to a rock.

      I tend to write from my heart and my head. lol. If I was a guitar player, I’d say I play by feeling. You do have phenomenal wordplay, my friend. I’ve written some self writes, it’s strange how my therapy sessions make great poetry.

      Nothing comes close to that vulnerable release, I don’t know how many things I’ve shared, that I had to battle with myself to push the button. But I was glad I did afterwards. It does take bravery to release personal writes. I call it exorcising personal demons.

      Question 3: I’ve quit writing a couple of times in my life. Two years was the longest I was away. Rather it be burn out or getting sober, I took my ball home and disappeared for a while. But I came back, obviously. Have you ever quit writing before? And if so, what always brings you back?

      It is vulnerable. Usually I take a deep breath, post and log out. Check the comments the next morning, offline.

      Unlike most poets I didn't start writing when I was a teenager. I woke up with poems in my head in 2016, I was forty, and started writing like my life was on the line, usually at night. On hindsight it was a response to the traumas I went through. I joined DUP shortly after that, wrote, posted and supported until October 2018 when it suddenly stopped. There was no more poetry left in me. For five+ years I wasn't able to write a single poem until last year in March it came back. As spontaneously as it started and stopped. Needless to say I have an unpredictable and quirky muse.

      Sounds reasonable to me. Got have a formula, I’m all about having a plan. It’s not easy to truly reveal one’s self. I respect you so much for your courage. It’s really inspiring to me, it’s made me unafraid to bare my soul more.

      That is a late start, I started at 15. Lyrics became my world. lol. It doesn’t show by the way, I think you’re a natural. I didn’t get decent till I was 40. lol. But seriously, that’s a fascinating story, I’m glad you received the gift, my friend.

      Question 4: Duende, I wanna thank you again for allowing me to interview you here on SpotLight. You’ve been a fabulous guest. It was an honor my friend, and it was fun getting to know you better. I appreciate you, and your continued support. People often talk about legacy, and their body of work. When the show is over and your story complete in this life. What’s the lasting impression you hope that readers will walk away with after reading your work?

      This might be a really strange answer, including a singer, a poet & quote, but it comes as it comes so here goes:    
   
      Nick Cave once gave a lecture on love songs in which he quotes Federico García Lorca: "All that has dark sounds has duende, that mysterious power that everyone feels but no philosopher can explain" Tener duende (Spanish for having duende) is a term connected with art, especially music. It means having soul, a heightened state of emotion, expression and authenticity. As a legacy I hope I was able to breathe the essence of duende. In life, love and poetry.

      That was a nice surprise to learn what your name means. Most of all it’s a cool fucking story. I had to get my one curse minimum per episode in. I think you’re already breathing the essence of duende, my friend. As are us readers. You’re a gifted poetess, a rocker chick, and all around wonderful lady. Thanks for sitting down and chatting with me, Duende. I appreciate you, my friend.

      That’s our show for tonight. Remember one thing my loyal DU audience, you never know who the SpotLight will shine on next. Appreciate you all. Peace, Love, & Lennon. I’m Damian DeadLove.