Meet the Poet: Freya Pickard

Posted on by Colleen M. Chesebro

Welcome to Meet the Poet, a Word Craft Poetry feature written to introduce you to the poets in our writing community. This is a way to get to know more about the poet and their work. Did you know many of our poets are accomplished fiction and non-fiction authors? Some of our poets are also artists, crafting their magic through watercolors or other artistic means along with the written word. There are even a few musicians in our poetic community!

At least once a month, I’ll be introducing you to the poets in our community! Grab a cup of tea or coffee, and meet the poet!

Our guest today is Freya Pickard.

Many of us know Freya from her poetry blog called Pure Haiku, which is an online poetry magazine where poets can submit their poetry for publication on the site. Freya graciously shares our 5-7-5 haiku and our bios with her readers. It’s always an honor to have a haiku accepted on her site.

Pushcart Prize nominee, Freya Pickard, is the author of The Kaerling series, an epic fantasy set in the strange and wonderful world of Nirunen.

A cancer survivor, she writes mainly dark fantasy tales and creates expressive poetry in order to leach the darkness from her soul. Her aim in life is to enchant, entertain and engage with readers through her writing.

She curates two blogs; Dragonscale Clippings and Pure Haiku. Freya finds her inspiration in the ocean, the moors, beautifully written books and vinyl music (particularly heavy metal and rock). She enjoys Hatha Yoga, Bhangra and Yogalates and in her spare time creates water colours and pastel drawings of the worlds in her head.

Amazon.com

Hi, Colleen. Thanks so much for the opportunity to talk about poetry. I’m really looking forward to our chat.

Thanks so much for stopping by Freya. I brought drinks! I’m glad you’re here.

Freya, how important is the accessibility of your poem’s meaning? Do you think one should have to work hard to “solve” the poem?

My intentions as a poet aren’t necessarily to inflict my view of something on someone else. I see poetry as one of many art forms. If something inspires me, then I want others to share that inspiration. 

I don’t think it’s necessary to write poems that are obvious or easy to understand. But at the same time, I don’t want to write verses that are so obscure, no one gets anything out of them.

For me, as a reader of poetry, I like to be able to delve deep into the poem and pick out themes and ideas that aren’t obvious on a first reading. I prefer poetry that has layers and the more you read them, the more they delight you and the more you understand them.

What I aim to do is write poems that people can latch on to and bring their own experience to. Even if they’ve not been through the same trauma that I’ve had, they can understand where I’m coming from because there is a shared experience at some point.

I think a poem is a two-fold process. It’s firstly a product of the writer’s experience. And secondly, it’s a work of art that can either be accepted or rejected by the reader.

Freestyle poetry is so popular. Why do you write syllabic poetry?

Writing syllabic poetry (haiku) is a discipline that I enjoy. I might not write haiku every day, but when I do, I feel satisfied and complete. I often come back to previously written haiku and tweak them until they are even better. It’s very rare that I write haiku that are perfect on the first draft.

I like writing poetry within parameters. I personally prefer classical haiku and find great pleasure in creating 3 lines of syllabic verse that aren’t stilted or unnatural. If I can’t make the words work one way, I think around the subject and find another, often better way, to express myself.

When I’m stressed or worried about something, I often go for a walk in the country lanes of Devon, and, whilst avoiding motorists who don’t want to share the road peaceably with me, I focus on something I see and start composing a haiku. Usually, by the time my 50 minute walk is over, I have 3 lines of haiku which I repeat over and over to myself until I can write them down. This helps me calm down and see the thing that I’d been stressed about in a different light.

Have you written a poetry book? Tell us about the book and why you wrote it.

I’ve written four poetry books so far, three of which are published. I’d like to tell you about the forthcoming collection which is called Vampirical Verse.

Vampirical Verse is a progression from Insides and This Is Me (which are concerned with real life and going through cancer) and my Mythology (which concentrates on the fantastical). My fourth poetry collection deals with the fall out post-cancer. It took six years for me to really come to terms with what had happened to me (bowel cancer, two major operations and chemotherapy) and I changed considerably. (Click the book images to find them on Amazon.com).

Vampirical Verse expresses my new self, my darker self, my stronger self. I am no longer the sweet, innocent girl that so enchanted people in the past. I’m harder now, less likely to tolerate any kind of fool. But at the same time, I am more patient with those who, like me, have been forever touched by death. I have a greater compassion for victims of trauma, particularly those who suffer from undiagnosed PTSD.

These verses erupted out of me between September 2020 and April 2022. They express my anger and frustration, my confusion and my resolution. I can’t explain why I had to suffer in this way, but looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. I might not be quite as “nice” as I used to be, but I think I’m a better person; stronger, resolute, and I won’t let anything stand in my way anymore.

I use the vampire as a narrator in the poems because vampires, out of all the fantastical and mythological creatures I know, are the ones I identify most with. Like a vampire, I feel empty; both undead and unliving. Like a vampire, I have embraced the darkness and found it to be shot through with life and light of such a kind that someone who has not been traumatised cannot understand.

Vampirical Verse contains a mixture of poetry styles (including haiku!) and will be available in November 2023.

Thanks so much, Freya. I look forward to reading your newest book. 💜

Here’s how to find Freya Pickard

Blog: https://dragonscaleclippings.wordpress.com/

Social Media:  https://twitter.com/FreyasClippings

Amazon Author Page: Freya Pickard

Thanks for stopping by to meet Freya. I’ll see you next time for another opportunity to Meet the Poet!

51 thoughts on “Meet the Poet: Freya Pickard”

  2. I didn’t know that Freya had a second blog/website, so thank you for that. I was just there and followed. The new book of poetry sounds fabulous. I love the blend of tangible real-life experience with personal mythologies (which are no less real), and the vampire is an intriguing creature to identify with. I’m looking forward to the November release. A wonderful interview, Freya and Colleen.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Loved your interview Colleen with Freya.. And Freya and I share in common, walking out in nature to destress 🙂
    I am not so disciplined 🙂 but I do enjoy this time of poetry… And agree poems should be unique to the author in that they portray their thoughts and feelings while at the same time being understandable..

    I have come across some poets whose verse’s are so obscure I hadn’t a clue what it was about… And that is off putting to me personally..
    And we all of us have a Vampire darker side to us, lol… if we are ready to dive deeper into that side… It’s within us all, Having the courage to bring that side out in verse is commendable .. We all of us get frustrated, and Anger needs to be expressed at times and not held within which can cause Dis-ease and Disease…

    Loved this interview Have a lovely week both of you ❤ ❤ ❤

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Sue, thanks so much. Freya calls her dark side a vampire, I call mine the shadow-self. You’re right, we all have that part of us. I loved how Freya said, through the darkness she found the light. Isn’t that always the way? I’m happy she can share her anger and frustration through her poetry. It’s a great way to cut though the darkness.

      Sue: I see the astrologer’s were spot on with events surrounding the full moon this month. There’s a lot going on. I’m keeping my heart in the light. Hugs and love to you! 💛🤗

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  7. Dear Colleen – Thank you for reintroducing one of my very first blogging friends – Freya! I am lucky to have some of her books.

    Freya – Continued success in your writing and growing and being comfortable with who you have evolved into. We all evolve everyday.

    While I have’t had a serious disease I have had two scares… and know many who have recovered and others… well to the other end result.

    I am very happy to know count both Colleen and Freya as poetic friends!!
    💕💞💗

    Liked by 2 people

      1. Kind of you to say… I was new then too. We have both learned so much. Even though I feel like I am stuck behind a bit (Tech-wise).

        May we move at the speed that suits us best 🙂 💖

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  9. Great interview 🙂 I agree about poetry being in layers that we can peel back. I look forward to reading your collections. Congrats on the upcoming release.

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