Interview Part 6: Finding My Way

"I had to find my own way to do what I wanted to do, and I’ve been very happy with all I have achieved. I love teaching, organizing, and writing. I love reading my poems in public. It’s been great fun for me to be able to do all of those things. 

First and foremost, I am a poet because that identity has always been a part of me since I was a little girl. I’m also a lot more than just a poet. I’ve used my love of poetry and my love of language to try to empower other poets and to bring poetry to people who might not be exposed to it otherwise. 

I’ve created a poetry journal and several poetry anthologies. Poetry is a form that can quickly reach other people and get past all their defenses. I try to teach people that they have to be brave and courageous in a poem and that they can write about the people they love and know with honesty and courage."

---

---

Maria Mazziotti Gillan's new poetry collection is When the Stars Were Still Visible (2021). Other recent publications are the poetry and photography collection, Paterson Light and Shadow and the poetry collections What Blooms in Winter and The Girls in the Chartreuse Jackets which pairs her poems with her paintings. Maria's artist's website is MariaMazziottiGillan.com and her poetry website is MariaGillan.com.