SONGSOPTOK: Do you think literature
is really essential in our life? If so why? In your opinion, what is the true
relationship between life and literature? What is your own experience? And how
does this relationship relate to the general history of mankind?
ROULA: Writing is for me a ritual,
extending time into its unseen dimensions, penetrating deeply into my
existence. As if from a spring of sacred
water, the words run out of my heart, to meet Nature and humanity through the
poem. Each poem is as a scenario, film, virtual reality, and I am the creator
of a new world. The poem, each word,
verse, stanza, unearths the history of humankind. Literature represents the
essence of human experience, and my life experience.
SONGSOPTOK: We would like to know
the beginning of the story, i.e. how your upbringing contributed to your own
writing. Who were your favorite literary figures during the early period of
your life? How they have paved your early routes in literature?
ROULA: Born after the Greek Civil
war, I lived through historical events and natural disasters. As a five-year
old child, I saw the flames coming up from the bowels of the Earth on an islet
opposite Thira. Having witnessed the destructive earthquake on Zante, Also, as
a child, I saw our 100-year old house collapsing like a straw structure. So, my
childhood heroes were real life war heroes, I was surrounded by fascinating
story tellers of different ages, happy people despite current events, narrating
their life adventures with a lot of humor. I was breathing in
every word and then was
re-creating their stories.. Did I need fictional heroes?
SONGSOPTOK: Do you think that literature also bridges the
human world with the Mother Nature? As well as with the present time of our
surroundings?
ROULA: From ancient times, the writer
either expressed life’s memories or narrated vividly centuries’ old stories. I come from a
literary tradition more than 3.500. At that time, a river was considered a God,
the seasons were represented by a certain goddess, humankind and nature were
interconnected. Even Alfred De Musse wrote, ”Man is a learner, Nature is his
teacher”. Nature is the all-knowing mind,
and this utmost knowledge is passed on to the writer. Today, nature is no
longer a teacher, but a wounded mother. We all are fully aware
of Nature’s destruction by humans and capitalism’s blind exploitation of the
Earth. To a great extent, the old relationship of literature been a bridge
between man and nature, or teacher, has been disconnected.
SONGSOPTOK: What are the main events
that you think are the major issues that have influenced present day
literature?
ROULA: The issues are many, and to
some extent, similar from country to
country: Human relationships,
humanitarian issues, love, peace, war, human rights, nature, terrorism, poverty, psychology. I also find that writers in the West are more
pessimistic than in the East, or in Africa -- where literature flourishes, is
highly esteemed, and has more vitality, ideology, spirituality, and the ability
to bond people together.
SONGSOPTOK: Do you think in this age of information and
technology the dimensions of literature has largely been extended beyond our
preconceived ideas about literature in general? Now in this changing scenario
we would like to know from your own life experiences as a poet, writer and a
creative soul; how do you respond to this present time
ROULA: In our global village,
literature does change almost as fast as major international political events
succeed each other, as history runs faster than any time in the past, as new medical inventions take place, climate
changes occur all over our planet, or as terrorism digs its nails into the
continents. When new wars start, major
social changes occur. Literature always follows these changes. In this very
fast-shifting environment, I try to catch up as much as I can. Can I? Is the
information from the media true, or is it biased, how much am I influenced by the black-out of the truth, do I/we ever
solve out the major dilemmas connected with critical issues? Should I stay positive
and optimistic in relation to the current negative changes, or should I be
paralyzed by fear? Luckily, times like these coincide with a stronger spiritual
awareness. Been aware, I am never a victim. When serious, negative
international events occur – and this is almost every day, a small or big
miracle happens, and my life awakens as I experience a spiritual rebirth.
SONGSOPTOK: Now if we try to
understand tradition and modernism in literature, do you think poetry can play
a pivotal role relating the two? If so, how? What are your opinions about the
role of the poet in bridging the gap, if any, between tradition and modernism?
ROULA: If we use the term, ‘tradition’, to cover 19th
century literature in England and North America, modernism began about the end
of the 19th century or at the
beginning of the 20th century and ended between 1945 and 1965,
according to researchers; to be followed by post-modernism. Modernism
experimented with literary form and expression, conveyed the horrors of the
First and Second World Wars, and put an end to human values as they were known
before. Poetry underwent the same stylistic and subject matter changes, as a
revolution occurred in other art forms.
SONGSOPTOK: Do you think that
society is the key factor in shaping you up as a writer. What about your own
country? What is the influence of your country & your culture in your
writing? Do you believe that all writers are by and large the product of their
nationality? Is it an incentive or an
obstacle for becoming a truly international writer?
ROULA: Society is certainly the key
factor in shaping my writing style and its content. Luckily, from a young age,
I felt like a caged bird wanting to fly
out of the cage of my country. The experience of living for 25 years in
England, a multi-cultural society was first like a shock and then a great,
diverse learning and life experience. I enriched both cultures, as my love for
Greece and its culture strengthened; I never felt as an immigrant in England,
because I genuinely love people and nature and I was privileged to have
choices. Then, I made a new beginning
again, returning to Greece. Here, I discovered, as a mature adult, with new
eyes, the legendary and mythical landscape of my youth, strengthened my values,
and reinforced my existence with new issues and ideals. The colors and shapes
of the Greek landscape have acquired magical qualities for me. The present mixes
harmoniously with the history of the past and creates a balance of sounds, a
special energy. These combinations of experiences, the extra sense of knowing
Greece from the beginning, allowed the caged bird, my soul, to open my wings as
an international writer.
SONGSOPTOK: Do you believe creative souls flourish more
in turmoil than in peace? Why? Are you a protagonist of "art for art's
sake"? Can you please present us with your point of view?
ROULA: I do not believe that living
in turmoil is my creative background. I believe in the asterism of “happiness”,
despite the human suffering, fear, poverty, lack of love, hate, wars,
terrorism, and the huge environmental problems we have created. Personal unhappiness creates “a black and
white” writing and way of life. The life of literature has a multitude of seen and unseen
colors. I never believed in “art for art’s sake”, especially as I grew up
during a dictatorship. I have been an activist from my childhood, so I believe
that been a writer is a mission. I also
came to believe that literature, and poetry in particular should not be written
for entertainment; the currents of inspiration, a poem, a stanza, a verse are a
healing spring, awakening forces, liberating both body and mind.
SONGSOPTOK: Do you think people in general actually
bother about literature in general? Do
you think this consumerist world is turning the average man away from serious
literature? And do you think poetry or literature can solve any problems in our
everyday life? Why should we adhere to it?
ROULA: People in general read novels,
biographies, autobiographies, poetry, short stories, travel books, etc. Also,
certain professions read specialist literature.
I think that the average reader will never read an experimental novel,
Homer, or contemporary poetry, unless the quality of education is improved. I
have witnessed that a number of young people did not commit suicide because
they read an optimistic poem. And in other cases, psychologically broken people
were healed when they read a novel, prisoners changed attitudes, as certain books sustained them when in prison.
A prime example is Nelson Mandela, who read daily William Ernest Henley’s poem,
“Invictus”, written in 1875, to keep his hope alive. My question is “ how many literature
and poetry books from those published every year are truly interesting, asking
vital questions, are healing books?”. The humankind needs healing and if we write
books about hate, sex, drugs, and pessimism just for consumers, we need more
enlightened teachers, education ministers, school consultants and writers.
SONGSOPTOK: Are you a feminist? Can literature play any
decisive role in feminism at all? What role can literature play to make our
lives better on a day to day basis?
ROULA: Feminism started around the beginning of the 20th century in the West and became stronger from the early 60’s to late 80’s. The notion has changed since its concept, the new generation of iconic feminist writers have milder views as society and women’s views changed. Great writers such us Simon de Beauvoir to Germaine Greer were the Bible of feminists, the icons of many women. As an early and late student, I went through feminism, to progress as a female pacifist, and ended up believing in “no more civil wars between the sexes”. I value immensely the strength of genuine love, in all its forms; and appreciate the notion that Marianne Williamson represents, an enlightened, humanistic and advance type of love. I hope literature’s main function in the future will cultivate the idea of Universal love, as new love, free from the negative memories of past love, and adjusted to the enlightenment of the 21st century.
SONGSOPTOK: Now if we want to
look ahead, do you think that there is an oncoming crisis for literature in
general? Will it bring new dimensions in our life ahead? Or do you think that
the future of literature is not as bright as it should be?
ROULA: My view is: The future of
literature depends on political, social, religious and educational
developments. Can political oppression, wars, and poverty create the
background for quality literature?
Certainly not. Been an optimist though, I believe that the growth and strengthening of positive ideas, new enlightened political leaders, lower unemployment, lack of human exploitation, optimism and
respect that all forms of life are sacred, and absence of religious fanaticism can lead humankind to a New Renaissance resulting to peace, and brother-sisterhood.
Lack of ideals, imperialism, and international debts will lead to larger
production of best sellers, useful only for holiday reading. I am confident that
literature’s future is not dark. I
envision that as the developing countries, or countries still starving for
knowledge, progress, a new greenhouse of literature is expected to give growth
to high quality books, provided they do
not copy the style and ideas of the West. Also, the radical fact that “ the Academy of Emergency
Art” was created in Denmark by Thierry Geoffroy
in 2015, begets the hope that the west can give birth to
new ideas and strength in future literature and poetry.
ROULA POLLARD Her family originated in
Malta. Its history goes back to the 13th century. Her ancestors
moved to Greece about the 16th century and eventually settled on the
island of Zante. In the 1820’s, her
great great grandfather studied in the Ionian Academy, Corfu, the first ever
Greek university of modern Greece. Ever since, and for the next 120 years, all
the men from her father’s side were teachers. Her paternal grandmother and her
mother were feminists. Roula Pollard, born on the island of Santorini, studied
History and Archaeology, at Athens University and received an M.A. in Classics,
at Leeds University. She lived in England, 1975-1998, and taught Modern Greek
language and Civilization.
As a literary promoter, Roula promoted more than 100 English and Greek poets at English universities, colleges, poetry festivals, high schools, and literary associations. She organized poetry workshops in England for high schools as well as for children with special needs. She participated in prestigious English and Greek poetry festivals.
As a literary promoter, Roula promoted more than 100 English and Greek poets at English universities, colleges, poetry festivals, high schools, and literary associations. She organized poetry workshops in England for high schools as well as for children with special needs. She participated in prestigious English and Greek poetry festivals.
Roula cooperated with university students, professors, painters, choreographers, and musicians for a numbers of English plays, multimedia performances, and Greek concerts. Roula published three poetry collections in Greek: “Presence” “Points of Silence”, and “The Birth of Beautiful Time”. She has written six poetry collections, in English and in Greek, still unpublished. Roula has also:
·
Published
articles on contemporary Greek, English, and American poets.
·
Translated
Plath’s and Ted Hughes’ poems into Greek.
·
Broadcasted
on Greek Radio and the BBC.
·
Has been promoting the return of the Parthenon
statues from the British to the Acropolis museum, Athens, and the return of the
classical Olympic Games to ancient Olympia, Greece.
·
Her
poems are published in more than 15 international poetry anthologies, various
Greek anthologies, and have been translated into Italian, Albanian, and Hindi.
We sincerely
thank you for your time and hope we shall have your continued support.
Aparajita
Sen
(EDITOR)
Songsoptok
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