Carlie Blume : part five

When you require renewal, is there a particular poem or book that you return to? A particular author?

There are so many books, but one in particular lately I find myself often returning to is Adele Barclay’s If I Were in a Cage I’d Reach Out for You. Her work is so sensual and vibrant. Every poem feels like a whimsical dream.

Carlie Blume : part four

What other poetry books have you been reading lately?

I recently read Tiana Clark’s I Can’t Talk About the Trees Without the Blood and was floored. I also just finished Cluster by Souvankham Thammmavongsa and was struck with her range and ability to bring the reader to their knees with a simple, stark poem. I also often return to Jonina Kirton’s Page as Bone- Ink as Blood as well as An Honest Woman. I will never tire of those books. Jonina’s poetry is so heartfelt, raw and wise. It breaks my heart every time.

Carlie Blume : part three

What do you find most difficult about writing poetry?

I sometimes struggle with figuring out how to elevate a poem and make it soar. I know when a poem isn’t working, but I don’t always know how to get it to that next level. I often drive myself insane with that question. That’s usually when I try to pull back and absorb myself with the work of other poets and make myself familiar with the poems that are working well.

Carlie Blume : part two

How did you first engage with poetry?

In elementary school my grade five teacher gave us the assignment that we had to memorize a poem and recite it in front of the class. I wasn’t familiar with much poetry growing up so my mom took me to the library where we checked out a few poetry anthologies. When I discovered Trees by Joyce Kilmer I was immediately drawn to poem’s beautifully simple anthropomorphic portrait of a tree as well as it’s musicality. It completely delighted me.

Carlie Blume : part one

Carlie Blume is a Vancouver born writer of poetry and fiction. She is a 2017 graduate of The Writer’s Studio as well as a recent graduate from the Vancouver Manuscript Intensive and Chelene Knight’s Advanced Poetry Workshop. Her work has appeared in The Maynard, Train: a poetry journal, Pulp MAG, Loose Lips Magazine, Guest Poetry Journal and BAD DOG Review.

What are you working on?

I am currently working on polishing up my first poetry collection, writing poems for my second collection and building up the courage to get back to the novel I have been starting and stopping for the last five years.