Kim Mannix : part five

What poetry books have you been reading lately?

I’m a horror writer too, or trying to be, and a huge Poe fan, so just before Halloween I re-read The Complete Poetry of Edgar Allan Poe. I’ve always loved “Annabel Lee” because of how deceptively simple it seems. And it’s beautiful to read out loud.

I just finished Michael Prior’s Burning Province, which was stunning, and thoughtful and certainly a book I will return to again and again. 

I’m on to Word Problems by Ian Williams now. He’s definitely one of my favourite writers, and the wordplay and cleverness of this book, combined with such important and startling content is genius.

I always have Heaven’s Thieves by Sue Sinclair by my bed. I’ve read it cover to cover many times, but there are poems in there that I’d consider comfort poems, the way you come back to favourite songs or foods for familiarity and joy, so I keep the book close at hand.

Kim Mannix : part four

How important is music to your poetry?

I’ve never considered how music directly impacts my poetry, but I do find much inspiration and emotional respite from listening to music, so in this way I suppose it must have an effect on what I write. I’m not a musician, but I am a big music fan/nerd. The bands or artists that I love the most are often great lyricists on top of being talented musicians. I don’t always listen to music when I’m writing, but when I do, I usually end up choosing something that matches the emotional resonance or mood of whatever I’m writing. Or perhaps it’s the music that help sets the tone for what words come out. 

Kim Mannix : part three

What do you find most difficult about writing poetry?

Right now, it’s time and enough quiet mental space to feel creative. I have kids, who are both learning at home during the pandemic, and a job I also do from home. I’m most creatively productive when I’m feeling rested and calm. This hasn’t happened in months. But in more “normal” circumstances, the most difficult part of writing poetry for me is trying to avoid treading the same path repeatedly in what I write. I seem to address the same topics or ideas, even when I don’t intend to, or use the same language or similar metaphors in different poems. So, finding ways to recognize and avoid falling into these poetic ruts can be a challenge.

Kim Mannix : part two

How do you know when a poem is finished?

I don’t know if I’ve ever felt anything I’ve written was absolutely finished. Even years later, if I re-read something I’ve considered “done” or that’s been published, I’m likely to see things I still want to change or tinker with. But obviously there’s a point where I am content enough with a poem to leave it alone. I can’t explain what exactly makes it ok to leave, other than there’s a kind of stillness or pause after I read it that makes me think, this can stand on its own now. It’s funny, because in my professional life I have deadlines that force me to finish whatever I’m writing, and make peace with how it comes out. There’s simply not time to tweak or second guess. Some of the poems I’m happiest with have also been because of some deadline, maybe for a contest or journal I’m submitting to.

Kim Mannix : part one

Kim Mannix is a poet, fiction writer and journalist from Sherwood Park, Alberta. She has been published in several journals and anthologies in Canada and the U.S. and is a contributing editor of Watch Your Head, a climate crisis anthology. You can find her on Twitter @KimMannix, usually posting about kids, cats and music.

How does a poem begin?

For me, this can happen in a lot of different ways. I’ve had great success responding to poetry prompts, especially during National Poetry Month challenges. Other times it will just be something a person says, or something I notice or remember, that sparks whatever that strange sense is that makes us think, “this could be the start of something.” It starts with a line, or sometimes even just a word and meanders from there.