Hera Lindsay Bird
Bad Artist Statement #5: Hera Lindsay Bird
PDR: I really love a line in one of your poems. I think of it often while writing. 'The only reason for poetry is to have a meadow in which to burn yourself alive in.' ... I think that's how I sort of find my own writing or any kind of artistic impulse, which is it's sort of like me attempting to reach some kind of animating force, finding something that can combust, which is ultimately about being alive.
HLB: Yeah, I was talking to someone about this the other night. I know plenty of socially adept people who are also wonderful writers. But that feels alien to me. I feel part of wanting to write is the psychological impulse to communicate with other people and not really being able to do that in the way I want. So you have to kind of construct this elaborate facade in which to do it, with hyper precision and intentionality. I think some of it is like having something to say, but not being able to think of what it is until three days after the conversation is over.