Clovia Press (CP): What led you to bring this collection together?

​

TJM: Many of these pieces were written at different points in my life over decades—

but they all came from the same place. Over time, it felt right to bring them together

into something more complete: a life lived thus far, rather than leaving them as

separate moments. It’s always been a dream of mine, since I was a little girl, to have

a book of my poetry published. I’ve been through a lot and made peace with a lot,

and it finally felt like the right time.

​

CP: Your work moves between personal and imagined perspectives.

How do you approach that?

​

TJM: Not everything I write comes directly from my own experience, but a lot does. In either case, the perspective comes from a place that feels real to me. Writing gives me space to explore things while letting me step into someone I’ve imagined being in that moment.

This book is meant to be viewed from an artistic perspective rather than a strictly literary one. Some sentences or phrasing may not appeal to readers who are looking for perfect context or spacing. I hope people approach it with an open mind and notice some of the visual choices made throughout the book.

​

CP: Some of the work can feel heavy or unclear at first. Is that intentional?

​

TJM: Yes. I like that. I like when something lingers, whether it’s for a short time or a long time. I think about the things that stay with us, especially the ones that shape us, like a person or an experience. I don’t try to resolve everything in my writing. Some things aren’t meant to be clear right away, and some aren’t meant to be comfortable. I’m more interested in letting those moments simply exist.

​

I’ve always written feelings above sense first, then gone back and woven the two together. Poems should feel like a dance...one you’re making with the words as they move with the thoughts you’re having while you read them. Most of mine are melodic and rhyme. I personally prefer poems that rhyme because it’s comforting to hear, read, and feel the tempo and how it carries you. Poetry should be a very immersive experience.

​

CP: What do you hope readers take from the collection?

​

TJM: I know my poetry isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. A lot of it is written in a way that’s raw, honest, and direct, and that can be difficult for some readers to connect with. Still, I hope people are willing to sit with it and continue through the collection, even when something doesn’t immediately appeal to them. There’s something in that process that matters to me. I want them to question things. I want them to talk about it with others, and I hope my work sparks conversations that have been long overdue.

​

I think poetry should make you feel something — even if it’s anger, sadness, love, excitement, or anything in between. If it doesn’t elicit something, then it hasn’t done its job. That’s not necessarily a bad thing; it just means you might need different pieces or different poets.

​

I also hope people don’t give up on poetry — the art of creating it and the passion for reading it. It’s a process, a journey, and the road is sparsely traveled. You can walk it for the tenth time and still spot something new. It keeps revealing itself each time. That’s why I enjoy it and absolutely love writing it.

​