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Poetry Grrrowl: Lyric Sexology Vol 1. + Trish Salah
In this expanded Canadian edition, Lyric Sexology Vol 1. (Metonymy Press), Trish Salah uses poetic sequence to inspire new and creative thought about the languages in which trans sexuality or transgender has been previously imagined. In today’s poetry grrrrowl Q&A, Trish explains the influence of language in her writing process and shares the poem “Eulalia for Mother Night” from the collection.
Interview with the Poet
All Lit Up: Tell us about your collection.Trish Salah: Lyric Sexology, Vol 1 is a poetic sequence that explores different archives in which gender variance and trans possibility has been written, like historical sexology, or feminist science fiction of the 1970s and 80s. It picks up different languages in which trans sexuality or transgender has been imagined and tries to do something new, critical and curious with them. It was first published by Roof in New York in 2014, and in 2017, the lovely folks at Metonymy brought an expanded, and gorgeous Canadian edition. Currently I’m working on Volume 2. ALU: What is your process for beginning a poem? Has it changed since you began writing?TS: It varies a lot depending upon the type of poem. At root though, I am always running language through my brain, and writing in dialogue with what I’m reading and thinking about. A poem begins when language catches somewhere, or simply when I sit down to it.ALU: What sparked your initial love of poetry?TS: Song and storytelling. So folk ballads, swoony seventies mystical art rock concept albums, punk. And myths and legends. ALU: Who are some of your fave women of poetry?TS: Some of my fave women poets include, Etel Adnan, M. NourbeSe Philip, Joy Ladin, Harryette Mullen, Trace Peterson, Gwen Benaway, Sina Queyras, Jos Charles, Dionne Brand, Kai Cheng Thom… ALU: What do you find most informs and inspires your writing?TS: Desire, and politics, and how weird language is. ALU: If you had one superpower, what would it be? Could you describe it in a haiku?TS: Her power, simplyTo slow down, speed, time travelWhy so melancholy?* * *A Poem from Lyric Sexology Vol. 1
“Eulalia for Mother Night”Saint Abel bombs to be a Barcelona called Chloe
Saint Sometimes Soon to be Chloe accepted.
An actor decides if detours, what’s arrived
Are art is lunges male managed mind
Student soma asks attitude of spirit birds
Susana begs becoming clothes consolidated
On experience from a far farm Pretoria painted
Older person finally “friends” Dorothy who knew later
Feelings, felt film gave gender exhibition
Film enjoyed homosexual—Ibiza eventually
Theatres of countryside, of doctor Doc’s doors
Talking theatre thin or Eulalia’s exhibited Gallery
Town transsexual took trees wanted island surges
Took a walk on the weekend, a woman situation
Mother never thought women realized role
Night offers interest spent, spritely: stay idea stay
Portal wise looks can seem weaker
Someone relating emotional problems
Someone to a Warrior Prince of England
But Erica suggested more Islands, more
* * *