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We were so pleased to include one of FIONA PITT-KETHLEY's poems in TPT's second issue. Fiona is a well-known British poet, novelist, travel writer and journalist. Since 2002 she's been living in Cartagena, Spain. Her first poetry collection, Sky Ray Lolly, came out in 1986, and we clearly remember being delighted and deliciously shocked by her sexual frankness and wicked sense of humour. For those who don't know Fiona's work try this YouTube clip. Fiona is a woman of many talents: she snorkels, does karate, goes rock-hunting in the Sierra Minera, and catches fish for her dinner.
Can you remember the first poem you ever wrote?
It was a few lines about a beautiful dead woman. It rhymed jewels with duels.
And how old you were when you wrote it?
7.
And what it was about?
See above.
Name a favourite poem or two . . .
Milton's sonnet "On His Blindness". "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey".
. . . and a few of your favourite poets.
Homer, Martial, Horace, Chaucer, Shakespeare, Milton, Rochester.
Do you talk about poetry with your friends or is it a secret part of your life?
Prefer other subjects.
Do you write poetry for yourself, or for others, or for both?
For others.
Is it important to you if your poems get published or not?
Yes.
Do you think poetry is important in the global scale of things or just a pleasant, indulgent hobby like needlework or trainspotting?
Important.
What does poetry really mean to you?
A way of crystalising things. Telling the truth in a very concise way.
Is poetry better than sex?
No.
