Interview by
Heather A. McMacken

After growing up in up in Calcutta, India, Zilka Joseph and her husband moved to Chicago in 1997 before settling in Michigan three years later. The couple currently lives in Auburn Hills, where Joseph tutors at Oakland Community College and teaches poetry workshops for Springfed Arts: Metro Detroit Writers.

Joseph’s first poetry chapbook, Lands I Live In, was released in March by Mayapple Press. The book focuses on themes of home, courage, and displacement. Its poems are divided into 2 sections. The first 9 poems, called “Across Worlds,” documents the move to Chicago, as well as the period of adjustment afterwards. Topics from the first section include phoning her parents long-distance (every Friday), standing in line to get a green card, her irritation at the phrase “God Bless You,” and feeling like an outsider during a book club meeting—of being “terrified of dropping crumbs/or spilling my wine.”

The last group of 7, titled “Old Countries,” captures memories from adulthood and childhood while in India. It deals with universal subjects like food, family, and puberty. “Footprints,” the most fascinating of these, tells of the inexplicable bond between Joseph and the neighborhood cobbler, who was “Skinny and sunburned as Gandhi.

On April 12th, Joseph read poems from Lands I Live In at Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea, in downtown Royal Oak, to a group of about 40 eager listeners (which included a few local poet-celebrities, such as Vievee Francis). Joseph’s outfit complimented her petite frame: black pants and black turtleneck, a brown and gold embroidered scarf, as well as long beaded earrings. Her soothing, musical voice conveyed in turn both seriousness and humor—often evoking gentle laughter from her listeners.

The night began with three poems from her book: “Green Card,” “Ten Takes on Snow,” and “Introduction to Circles.” In a segway to the next group of poems, Joseph admitted that “though food and wine poems are usually my favorite, I’m going to read some nature poems.” The fourth poem, “You Don’t Screw With Scorpions” was positively hilarious, and was then followed by two somber poems: one about insects and the other concerning snakes.

Joseph’s next poem, “Death by Snoring,” pokes fun at her husband’s snoring. The piece was made even more humorous by the fact that she introduced it—with a straight face—as “probably the only serious poem I’ve ever written.” The last poems, “Kaulee Haddi” and “Consider the Sari” contained the richest imagery of the evening, and were both sensual and sad.

The morning after the Sweetwaters reading, I had the chance to sit down with Joseph for a one-on-one…

McMacken: Did you enjoy sharing your poems last night?

Joseph: Yes, I think it went well. There was a bigger crowd than I expected!

M: Your poems have been described as “direct and conversational.” What other words would you use to describe your work?

J: Intense. I feel the moment very intensely, and so then my writing reflects that intensity.

M: Tell me about your publisher.

J: Mayapple is a small press with an independent and discerning woman at the helm (Judith Kerman), and whose support of emerging and established Michigan writers deserves applause.

M: Please describe the process of putting the book together.

J: I liked working closely with Judith. She gave me very useful insight, and allowed me to be very involved in creating the cover. The whole thing was a really great learning experience.

M: What was the most important personal lesson you gained from the writing of this book?

J: All of the poems of the book reflect a certain kind of push-pull thing that happens with a move. I think what I learned—and what I tried to show in the book—is that we carry worlds within us, wherever we go. When I moved to Chicago, I brought India with me. Then when I moved here, I brought India and Chicago with me.

M: What a wonderful lesson!

J: Life is a process, and it is all about learning. I keep on getting surprised. Just when I think: ah, I’ve gotten used to this—then another experience happens!

M: Which poets have you been most influenced by?

J: I have been strongly influenced by Shakespeare, Rabindranath Tagore, Pablo Neruda, Marge Piercy, and Grace Paley. Also, I love the work of William Olsen (he teaches at Western Michigan)…and then, of course, there is Bob Dylan. Many people don’t think of him as a poet, but he really is.

M: Any new poetic projects these days?

J: Recently I was accepted for the University of Michigan’s MFA program, which I’ll be attending this fall. Right now, I’m working on a full-length collection of poems. And soon I’ll be teaching another workshop…you can go to Springfed Arts: Metro Detroit Writers website (http://www.springfed.org/MDWfront.html) for details.

M: Who should register for your workshops?

J: All skill levels are welcome, and financial aid is available. Classes are great for anyone who wants to connect, share ideas, and grow. Poets benefit from the energy of other poets!

Lands I Live In: Poems
Zilka Joseph
Mayapple Press
$12.95
42 pp.

Lands I Live In can be ordered from Mayapplepress.com, Amazon.com, and from Barnes and Noble.

Heather A. McMacken was the detroiter.com's very first intern. A recently graduated English major from Oakland University, she adores poetry. She eats it for breakfast.

Friday June 1, 2007

Event: Godsmack singer, Sully Erna, will be speaking about his upcoming book and possibly signing copies
Location: Borders Books, 1012 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226
Time: 12:30 pm
Phone: 313-963-8840
Website: www.borders.com
Price: Free

Saturday June 2, 2007

Event: Craft-o-rama, the “one day only spectacle of local handmade craftin’ fury”
Location: The Book Beat Bookstore, 26010 Greenfield, Oak Park, MI 48237
Time: 11 am to 7 pm
Phone: 248-968-1190
Website: http://www.thebookbeat.com/
Price: Probably free, but call for more details

Event: Valerie Polakow speaks about the child care crisis in America, the subject of her new book
Location: Shaman Drum Bookshop, 315 South State Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Time: 2 pm
Phone: 734-662-7407
Website: http://shamandrum.com/
Price: Free

Event: Detroit Worker-Writer Festival, writers will share their works and thoughts on the nation while celebrating the 70th anniversary of the 1937 sit-down strikes and the 75th anniversary of the Ford Hunger March
Location: Labor Legacy Monument at Hart Plaza, 1 Washington Blvd, Detroit, MI 48226
Time: 2-4 pm
Website: http://www.cobocenter.com/index.php
Price: Free

Monday June 4, 2007

Event: Poetry night at Keena Thomas every Monday night
Location: Keena Thomas, Danni Roche Clothing, 13305 W 7 Mile Rd, Detroit, MI
Time: 7 pm
Phone: (313) 340-1004
Website: http://mi.local.yahoo.biz/DanniRoche/index.html
Price: $5.00

Event: Monday night in the Clouds, open mic poetry every Monday night in June
Location: Coffee Bean, 884 Penniman Ave, Plymouth, MI 48170
Time: 7-10 pm
Phone: 734-454-0178
Website: http://plymouthcoffeebean.com/
Price: Free

Thursday June 7, 2007

Event: A kickoff celebration for the Dzanc Writers in Residence Program, where students of Paul Toth will share their works of fiction
Location: Shaman Drum Bookshop, 315 South State Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Time: 7 pm
Phone: 734-662-7407
Website: http://shamandrum.com/
Price: Free

Friday June 8 through Sunday June 10, 2007

Event: Detroit Festival of the Arts
Location: Wayne State University, on Warren, Anthony Wayne, Woodward, Ferry, and John R streets, Detroit, MI 48201
Time: Fri: 4-11 pm; Sat: 12-11 pm; Sun: 12-9 pm
Website: http://detroitfestival.com/07/
Price: Free

Saturday June 9, 2007

Event: Cartoonist Mikhaela Reid will sign books
Location: Green Brain Comics, 13210 Michigan Ave, Dearborn, MI 48126
Time: 4 pm
Phone: 313-582-9444
Website: http://www.greenbrain.biz/
Price: Free

Thursday June 14, 2007

Event: Steve Hamilton, author of the novel A Cold Day in Paradise, will read at the Baldwin Public Library
Location: Baldwin Public Library, 300 W. Merrill, Birmingham, MI 48009
Time: 7 pm
Phone: 248-968-1190
Website: http://www.metronet.lib.mi.us/
Price: Free

Sunday June 17, 2007

Event: “Out of the Book” program, showing a short film about British Author Ian McEwan. The first of many films on different authors
Location: Michigan Theater, 603 East Liberty Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Time: 1 pm
Phone: (734) 668-8397 or (734) 668-TIME
Website: http://michtheater.org/
Price: $8.50 for non-members; $6.75 for veterans, students with valid ID, children under 12, and senior citizens; $6.00 for theater members

Event: Garrison Keillor at the Max for special father’s day concert
Location: Max M. Fischer Music Center, 3711 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48201
Time: 3 pm
Phone: 313-576-5111
Website: http://www.detroitsymphony.com/
Price: $30-90

Wednesday June 20, 2007

Event: Travis Holland speaks about his debut novel, The Archivist’s Story
Location: Shaman Drum Bookshop, 315 South State Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Time: 7 pm
Phone: 734-662-7407
Website: http://shamandrum.com/
Price: Free

Friday June 22, 2007

Event: Honors Poetry Series and Open Mic with Valerie Layne (Taylor) Kearns
Location: Plymouth Book Cellar, 840 W. Ann Arbor Trail, Plymouth, MI
Time: 7:00-9:00 pm
Phone: 734-455-2704
Website: http://www.blushingskywriters.com/
Price: Call for more info

June 22, 23, 29, & 30, 2007

Event: Abreact Theater at the Zeitgeist, performing the satirical “The Penis Monologues”
Location: Zeitgeist Art Gallery, 2661 Michigan Avenue, Detroit, MI 48216
Time: Contact the Zeitgeist for more info
Phone: 313-965-9192
Website: http://www.zeitgeistdetroit.org/
Price: Contact Zeitgeist for more info

Monday June 25, 2007

Event: Chuck D will offer social commentary, which will be followed by a late night poetry jam
Location: Max M. Fischer Music Center, 3711 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48201
Time: 8 pm, 10 pm
Phone: 313-576-5111
Website: http://www.detroitsymphony.com/
Price: $23.50

Tuesday June 26, 2007

Event: Several authors of Spoken Word Revolution Redux will speak about their book and spoken word poetry
Location: Shaman Drum Bookshop, 315 South State Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Time: 7 pm
Phone: 734-662-7407
Website: http://shamandrum.com/
Price: Free

Wednesday June 27, 2007

Event: Daryl Hafter will speak about working women in preindustrial France, the subject of her new novel
Location: Shaman Drum Bookshop, 315 South State Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Time: 7 pm
Phone: 734-662-7407
Website: http://shamandrum.com/
Price: Free

Event: Music Fights Back, a controversial retelling of Stravinsky’s classic “A Soldier’s Tale” with text by Kurt Vonnegut, featuring Terry O’Quinn from ABC’s Lost
Location: Max M. Fischer Music Center, 3711 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48201
Time: 8 pm
Phone: 313-576-5111
Website: http://www.detroitsymphony.com/
Price: $20-50