A Conversation between Two Poets: Emmanuel Chimezie (Nigeria) & DebashritaBasu (India)
Interviewer/Moderator: Good day, esteemed poetess.
DebashritaBasu: Good day, sir.
Moderator: Welcome to the second edition of today’s interview.
DebashritaBasu: I am deeply honoured. Thank you so much.
Moderator: Today, we are joined by the talented poetess, DebashritaBasu, from India, who is here to share her insights on poetry. This will be a conversational dialogue, allowing us to explore her thoughts and experiences.
DebashritaBasu: Namaste.
Q1: What inspired you to start writing poetry?
DebashritaBasu: Writing is my hobby, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, when I had a lot of free time, I devoted myself to writing poetry.
Emmanuel Chimezie: For me, inspiration came through pain. I started from passion but later grew through it.
Q2: How would you describe your poetic style or voice?
DebashritaBasu: I am a lyrical poet. I often give voice to my feelings and emotions. I write in free verse, and that is how I express myself most of the time.
Emmanuel Chimezie: For me, I wanted to explore beyond the natural. I sought to see what is invisible, so I write from the lens of the unseen.
Q3: Which poets or writers have influenced your work the most?
DebashritaBasu: My favourite poets are John Keats, William Wordsworth, and P. B. Shelley. Most of them are Romantic poets who have influenced me greatly.
Emmanuel Chimezie: I would like to commend the work of Ocean Vuong. His poetic style is deeply creative and inspiring.
Q4: How do you approach the creative process when writing a poem?
DebashritaBasu: Whenever a thought comes to my mind, I begin writing. I prefer to express what I feel deep in my heart, whether it is a social or personal theme. I never hesitate to write.
Emmanuel Chimezie: I write from revelation. Sometimes, I begin with a title and then expand on it.
Q5: What role do you think poetry plays in society today?
DebashritaBasu: Poetry is a powerful form of literature that helps to rebuild society by sharing emotions, experiences, and thoughts. It is essential in helping us care for one another and in spreading love and fraternity across the world.
Emmanuel Chimezie: Poetry changes the mind and serves as a powerful instrument for transformation in the world.
Q6: What advice would you give to emerging poets?
DebashritaBasu: To emerging poets, I would advise you to awaken your spirit and make the world a more beautiful place by touching all spheres of life through your writing.
Emmanuel Chimezie: I would advise emerging poets to go beyond the natural and ascend to deeper forms of expression beyond the human senses.
Closing Thoughts
We thank our esteemed poetess, DebashritaBasu, for taking the time to share her insights. Your contributions are greatly appreciated.
Moderator: This concludes our interview. Thank you both for an inspiring conversation.