In this provocative and compelling interview, Play of the Duende, poet S. Erin Batiste discusses how The Duende and her life-long love of the written word influence her poetry. What is The Duende? You might be wondering.
Federico Garcia Lorca says about The Duende in his essay Theory and Play Of The Duende. "Those dark sounds are the mystery, the roots that cling to the mire that we all know, that we all ignore, but from which comes the very substance of art. 'Dark sounds,' said the man of the Spanish people, agreeing with Goethe, who in speaking of Paganini hit on a definition of the duende: 'A mysterious force that everyone feels and no philosopher has explained.'"
Of course, Ms. Batiste happily explains that her love of poetry started early in her life. She tells us that even as a small child, something inside her, perhaps it was The Duende, told her she would make her way and mark in this world as a poet and a writer. Indeed, she's done just that.
In this interview, Ms. Batiste talks at length about craft and how she makes her poetry by drawing from her vast life experiences, including the many stories from her big family, most especially stories her beloved Grandmother told her. Ms. Batiste says, "I'm a hopelessly Southwestern person. I had three families that did the Western migration; they didn't go up north as many black families did. They went west and peppered the Southwest, California, New Mexico, Washington, and Arizona.
During this wide-ranging interview, we discuss The Duende, poetic craft, family, love of the land, travel, and why it's essential to stay true to one's calling. In this interview, Ms. Batiste will wow you while she reads three of her poems. Her poetry offers you a complexity that comes with one's dedication to the craft of poetry. Within the complexity, you'll find ease, delight, wisdom, and of course, The Duende, always remember The Duende.
