Q&A with Monica Bolduc

Monica Bolduc is 24 years old. She writes about her experiences, the people she meets and the characters they

portray. Since her first public reading, which took place while in university, she has taken part in the first Anthologie de la Poésie des Femmes en Acadie, Soirée Prélude for upcoming writers and has had her work published in Montreal’s poetry review, Exit. Bolduc is now working on her very first poetry book. (Photo: Radio-Canada)

When did you realize that poetry was something you wanted to pursue?

A few years ago, I was going through a pretty rough phase, and I started to write. It was the only thing that brought be some sort of escape/relief. I had never read poetry at that point. I just wrote to empty my guts.

When did you present your first poem?

I remember a friend of mine was putting together a poetry night at the University and she asked me if I wanted to read something, I thought 'why not? Got on stage, read my six poems, and that's where it all began.

Do you have a role model? A parent or an artist?

It's a bit more complicated than that. But I was lucky to grow up in a free and artistic family. My father is a painter and my sister is a visual artist as well. Growing up we were always creating something, writing a song, drawing, painting, playing different characters. Imagination and creation were always present.

But what really got to me was the summer I was working for the Acadie Rock Festival, I attended La Soirée Poésie Gérald LeBlanc, I had the chance to see so many great poets on stage (Jean-Paul Daoust, Paul Bossé, Sonia Cotten.) It was incredible. After that night, I told myself, I want to do this. I wrote my first poem a few months after that.

Where and how do you draw your inspiration for your poetry? Is it an act of solitude or is it open?

Mostly solitude. I write because I need to, because it saved me. I write from my guts and personal experiences and states of mind. I also tend to be inspired by people, their habits, the things they say, the way they move. Everybody is subject to becoming a character or a poem.

Tell me about your success with the Radio-Canada poetry competition in 2015.

I wanted to write something completely new but I procrastinated and instead worked on a few poems I had in store. I figured I had nothing to lose and sent the small collections of poems I named Naufrages. I had to wait a few months before knowing anything about it. And then one night I got an e-mail saying I was in the top 30, I couldn't remember the last time I was that excited and proud. I didn't even care if I won at that point, making the top 30 was everything I needed. I had already won.

Your first professional reading during The Frye Festival, how did that feel?

I last participated at the Frye Festival in 2014, where I was part of the launching of the first Anthologie de la Poésie des Femmes en Acadie. I was lucky enough to be the youngest poet, the last one to read and to be accompanied by the wonderful and talented Les Païens. These guys made me understand some of my words like I never could before. I was also one of the poets chosen to read at the Soirée Prélude for upcoming writers.

Tell me about the book you're working on. It hasn't been clear all along what my first poetry book was going to be all about. I chose the title during the first few weeks of writing a couple years ago. I had no idea why, but I knew I'd figure it out – and I did, a few months ago. Basically my book will be about my own adventure as a young adult, and hopefully will relate to everyone in their early 20s discovering what life (and love) is all about, all the times you fall, mental disorders, misery, passion and hope.

This is a big one, but can you describe how poetry has impacted your life?

Other than being an amazing therapy in times of despair (or of joy,) poetry has brought me amazing experiences. Like I said, it all started that one night at Le Coude when I publicly read my poems for the first time. Serge Patrice Thibodeau, director of Les Éditions Perce-Neige, was in the crowd. I was freaking out. I thought if there is one guy to impress, it's him.

After my reading, he got up and left. A few minutes later, I received message from him saying he liked my texts and my reading, and that he would soon have some projects for me. He took me under his wings, and helped me get published twice (notably in a Montreal Review of poetry named Exit,) and to participate in many different festivals and poetry nights. It has been an amazing ride so far, I have met so many inspiring people. I can't wait to see what's next.

(Photo by Max-Antoine Guérin)

---

Braemar I

décalage horaire

entre cœur et tête

les veines

pleines

de goudron

de la suie

sous les paupières

épaisses

les pieds collés

à l’asphalte humide

et la main qui ne veut pas lâcher

la poignée

de ta porte

pour une dernière fois

naufrages

mon lit sent l’océan

où l’on s’est noyé

en silence

où tu m’as dit

«I’ll still love you in the morning»

et au matin tu m’aimais encore

tu m’aimais

tellement

que tu ne voulais pas

alors tu as décidé

de m’éplucher le cœur

de me râper l’âme

de me crever les yeux

de me tenir la tête sous l’eau

jusqu’à ce que je cesse

de remuer les bras

alors je me suis noyée

seule

parce que tu as refusé

de nager avec moi

mon lit est vide et il sent encore l’océan

un autre verre

t’arrives presque

à toucher

les effluves

de mon pas d’classe

de mes lunettes trop sales

de mon sourire décâlissé quand j'te dis

que j'ai encore soif

#poetry #art #moncton #acadian #writers #newbrunswick #frye