LatinosUSA

• Juan Re Crivello: Do you think poetry is back in fashion?

Danielle Martin: In fashion nothing completely goes out of style. Major trends often see great comebacks after generations of being shunned, resurfacing with a bang! 

So, yes, poetry is very much back in fashion, especially amongst the young, which is a delight to see. It never really left to be honest, I think it underwent and is still experiencing a transformation from its historically rigid structure.

The traditional environments and communities that corralled poetry have had to take a step back and listen to this new wave of consciousness. As the world evolves, new voices are demanding to be heard, creating spaces more open to the mosaic flow of poetry, one that thrives on social media and cosy places, where the spoken word is not only heard and applauded, but felt. 

• J. R. C.: Do you write daily or as ideas come to you?

Danielle Martin: Good question. When I first started, it would be ONLY as the inspiration hit. I felt that it made my writing authentic. However, because I am involved in poetry workshops and writing groups, I find myself writing on a more daily basis. LOL! Note, not daily, but more. The concept of using prompts truly helps to exercise creativity.

• J. R. C.: What is your next publishing project? Could you tell us how it came about?

Danielle Martin: I have two poetry manuscripts which I anticipated would have been published this year, but there are always forces out of one’s control. I’m aiming for next year, my beautiful babies will emerge next year.

After my short story collection, I told myself I needed to return to poetry. I had been experimenting with micro-poems and fortunately, I had enough to fill a poetry book. The second manuscript was more challenging, there was an inner yearning to speak to the essence of womanhood, the idea popped up, like a sudden whisper and possessed me, the poems in this book are more guttural and emotionally consuming. The writing this time around is intense, more so than in my debut poetry collection – Kissing Shadows. If or when you read the two books you’ll experience the difference in tone and voice.

• J. R. C.: Describe your favorite bar or cafe.

Danielle Martin: I am from the Caribbean, where bars of any type are all over the place to suit your mood and budget. Interestingly, too, there’s a growing proliferation of cafes, cosy coffee shops to warm you on rainy days and early mornings. Quite recently though, I found a lovely bar, about an hour drive from my home. But the view on the ride there is green, lush and the winding road, newly paved. The rustic, wooden structure stands opposite the sea and believe me when I say it is the place to be at sunset. The Mango Daiquiri is heaven and the ambience screams, «I’m on vacation!» Everything from tables to chairs to bar it’s all crafted in wood. And from inside you get to gaze at the sea and there’s a cheeky pool too that sits and tempts. Plants are placed throughout and music wafts through the air, the sense of calm is surreal.

Secrets by Danielle Martin

Curious fingers burned by a pretty flame

a crushed orchid from one too many hugs

a tear, another decision to forget.

Like a rose beautiful yet so unwanted 

from the heavens she sends her love

and I smile. 

Another part of me to let go of, another part of me I can only dream of

the tale stuck upon my lips, fermenting into wine

I can never taste.

A cruel sentence I’m prepared to bear, for some 

things can’t ever be shared.

Author Biography

Danielle Martin is the author of Kissing Shadows: Caribbean Love Poems and Sweet Talk: Caribbean Culture, a collection of short stories. She has a B.A. in History and is a former Journalist and Copywriter from Trinidad and Tobago. Danielle’s poems are published in several international print, online Journals and Anthologies. Follow her on IG@cosquelle.mind or facebook.com/martindauthor/

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