29 February 2016, 12:28 pm – IT MIGHT be a simple thing for some, but for author and
translator Marne Kilates, taking notes can take aspiring writers to the
country’s literary scene.
“In hindsight, college is a very exciting part of anyone’s life.
If I could tell a young man, take lots of notes. You will need some discipline
to convert these notes into poetry or other literary works,” Kilates told the
Varsitarian during the launching of his poetry collection “Lyrical
Objects” last Feb. 27 at Solidaridad Bookstore.
Kilates’ latest collection is a compilation of 60 poems that
feature everyday life, scenery and objects. He said the connection and rhythm
of everyday objects can reveal the innate poetry within them.
“Everything ‘vibrates’, everything is connected and that’s the
poetry of it. You just have to look at them and listen closely,” he said.
Kilates said he always challenges himself to explore themes that
deal with reality, memory and even life as found in objects lying
around.
“Ideas are the natural material for poetry, but objects are not.
It’s more of a challenge for me to look for poetry in objects,” he said.
Kilates has authored numerous books on poetry and translation,
including “Poems en Route” and “Mga Biyahe, Mga Estasyon” respectively. He has
received the Don Carlos Palanca Award and the Southeast Asian Writers Award.
Cedric Allen P. Sta. Cruz
