Part Three: An interview with Australian author, essayist and poet, Kathryn Pentecost
Janice: Kathryn, whilst reading your most recent publication Chiaroscuro , I've returned to your poem 'In Java' several times... It's like unfurling layers of tissue paper, only to discover the exquisite necklace to be found there is nestling on dry ice. Look but don't touch! This could burn you! Kathryn: 'In Java' is my very favourite poem EVER. Yes, in my case, I write with an awareness of the visual and the sensual world. Language has both these capacities i.e. the power to evoke these other sensory dimensions. I was inspired by Honor de Balzac's fictitious journey to Java. His richly evocative language influenced my own. Janice: Tell me more about the source of this material. Kathryn: This poem also has a sound quality I like. It is one of the most well-crafted poems I've written. It means the most to me. Thematically, it connects west (Europe) and east (Asia)... playing on the idea of the European notions of 'Orientalism'... that t...