Romina Ramos

is a Portuguese poet, whose work mostly examines complicated familial relationships, and interrogates themes of identity, belonging and dislocation. They’ve been shortlisted for the #Merky Books New Writer’s Prize and The Bridport prize for poetry, and won the Carcanet prize for poetry. They are editor in chief for Worktown Words, Live From Worktown’s creative writing magazine and co-founder and host of Natter, a monthly night providing a platform for creatives of all levels to share their work in a warm and supportive environment.

The Interview

1 How did you decide on what poems to send?

Some I wrote specifically one was edited to fit theme. 2 What poetic form did it take, and why?

I don’t tend to play with form too much unless it serves a meaningful purpose to the poem, in the case of these submissions I wrote mainly in short stanzas.

3 How did you use the whiteness of the page in your poem?

I didn’t.

4 How did you decide on the title of your poem?

My titles usually come from a word or feeling within the poem.

5 Imagery, or narrative. Which was more important to you in writing the poem?

Both, I think one serves the other. Effective imagery can help drive the narrative forward. 

6 What do you think of where your poem is placed in the collection?

I think it has married well with the other surrounding poems.

7 Once they have read your poem, what do you hope the reader will leave with?

For some maybe nostalgia, for others maybe curiosity.

You can purchase TWT Wave 2, here: https://shorturl.at/ezFNn