Amanda Earl : part one

Amanda Earl is a Canadian writer, editor, publisher and visual poet whose goals are whimsy, exploration and connection. She’s the managing editor of Ottawa-based Bywords.ca and the fallen angel of AngelHousePress. With a.m. kozak, she co-hosts the podcast, the Small Machine Talks. Most recent poetry chapbook is wintered by shreeking violet press. Last poem published was Jo Ego (1) on Queen Mob’s Teahouse as part of the Videogames and Loneliness series. For more info, visit AmandaEarl.com or connect with Amanda on Twitter @KikiFolle.

What do you feel poetry can accomplish that other forms can’t?

Because poetry is such a vast field for form, exploration, theme and content, there aren’t any limits to what a poem can be. Pedants will insist that a poem should be this way or that way, but it really can be anything the creator’s imagination and skill can make. I see poetry as a form of art and as art it has the potential to confuse, irritate and get under the skin, for me anyway, more than other forms. I read somewhere that art should disturb the comfortable and comfort the disturbed. This is what I want out of poetry.