Welcome to Episode 17 of New Recruits! If it’s your first time here, check out Episode 1 for a description of how this works.
Amy Lindo is my aunt, my mother’s youngest sister. She’s had a lot of pets in the time that I’ve known her, but right now she has a very large German shepherd named Zen. This is Zen:
She also has two teenage sons, so I thought that a poem called “Lady of the Beasts” would be perfect for her.
“Lady of the Beasts” was actually first published in an issue of Cough that I edited (8th issue, page 43). You can also find it in Billie’s newest book, Waters Of. Michael Boughn lent me his copy of Waters Of a couple months ago and I don’t want to give it back… but I will because it’s signed to him… and then I’ll get myself my own copy.
Let me tell you something friends, this book is fucking excellent. I want to swim in it. The cover is my favourite colour and the poems are my favourite kind of poems. Recently a lot of people have been asking me what kind of poems I write/like. I never have a good answer, but maybe this kind, whatever this kind is. Mike wrote a whole review of Waters Of here, which you can read if you’d like.
So here’s Amy reading “Lady of the Beasts”
Q&A
What was your first impression of the poem?
To be brutally honest, I didn’t understand it at all, but I generally don’t understand poetry, but once my niece explained to me why it was chosen for me I instantly felt a connection to it.
Which line of the poem do you like best?
Go ahead / steal my feet, / I have my tiger.
Why?
It is such a relatable line for me because I have had so much taken from me but I have always had a fire within me (my tiger) to keep on going. Also, I obtain a lot of positive energy and strength from my dog who is like a tiger in so many ways.
What does this poem make you think of?
Life.
Have you encountered a poem like this before? Is this poem different from what you expected poetry to be like? If so, How?
I don’t recall ever encountering a poem like this.
Does this poem remind you of any other piece of art or media?
The Life of Pi
Do you have any questions for the poet?
What was your inspiration for writing this poem?
Amy Lindo is a single mom of two teen boys. She currently has three jobs, or four if she adds being a mom to that list. She has the most adorable dog named Zen, who is anything but zen.
Emily Izsak 