Tracey from the Fiction team chats to one of the “Friend’s” favourite poets, Eileen Hay.
How long have you been writing poetry?
To be honest I cannot remember a time when I didn’t write poetry! I was never any good at maths at school but loved English, particularly poetry, and being born in Edinburgh we learned many Robert Burns poems from an early age!
You have a poem in our annual and also in the “Magic of Christmas” bookazine. Do you enjoy writing seasonal poetry?
It’s sometimes difficult to find a ‘theme’ for a poem but writing about Christmas or choosing an appropriate season, and suddenly the ideas are there. Christmas is such an evocative season that I always enjoy finding ways to capture it.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
Inspiration can come from totally mundane things like train journeys or supermarkets swapping things around! Some, like “The Mermaid” which I was fortunate enough to have published recently, are literally from a dream I had! Sometimes something will just touch me, like seeing a bright little flower blooming in the shadows under a dark bridge and I’ll write about that.
Who are some of your favourite poets?
I like a wide variety of poetry, both classic and modern. I particularly love John Betjeman as I think he writes poems that people really understand and can relate to. I’m not so keen on poems where I need a dictionary in one hand in order to understand them! There’s nothing by W.B Yeats that I don’t like, but particularly love “When You are Old”. My all time favourite poem is Philip Larkin’s “An Arundel Tomb” – it’s just so romantic!
Do you have a notebook for jotting down ideas?
I keep a notebook by the side of my bed and jot down any ideas, or even just phrases, that come into my head. My cat Alfie often has to be removed from it first!
Thank you, Eileen, we look forward to seeing more of your poetry!
For exclusive poetry, pick up The Friendship Book, The Magic Of Christmas and “The People’s Friend” Annual now.
Tracey Steel Having worked on a number of magazines over the years, I have found my perfect place on the “Friend” as I’m obsessed with reading and never go anywhere without a book! I read all of our stories with a mug of tea close by and usually a bit of strong cheese too!
