Interview with Natalie Marino, Poet and Physician
-with Arthur Turfa,
poet and writer
1.
What attracted you first to poetry?
I
have enjoyed reading poetry since I was introduced to Sylvia Plath's poetry in
high school. As I entered my 40s, I found that in addition to working as a
physician and being a mom to my two daughters, I needed to do something
creative, and writing poetry seemed like a good fit for me.
2.
You are in a
long line of physician poets (including William Carlos Williams, Gottfried
Benn, and Jenna Le). How does your profession impact your poetry?
The profession of medicine necessarily
involves paying close attention to what patients are saying, to their stories.
Often sitting with these stories also involves carrying heavy emotional weight,
and writing poetry helps me process this heaviness.
3.
You have a chapbook out now with Finishing Line Press. Tell
us about it!
My chapbook Under Memories of Stars is a collection of
lyric poems that address love,
grief,
and acceptance. Each poem involves stars and how they are simultaneously every
present
and unreachable. You can order my chapbook here:
https://www.finishinglinepress.com/product/under-memories-of-stars-by-natalie-marino/
What poets influence you?
Sylvia
Plath continues to influence my poetry. I also greatly admire the work of Jack
Gilbert, Louise Glück, Linda
Gregg, and Charles Simic.
4.
What lies
ahead for you poetically?
I am currently trying to get my next chapbook
published. It is a collection of twenty
poems addressing America. The poems work together to
show our collective need for a a
new American Dream.
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