Interview with José-Flore Tappy

The special feature of the new issue of The Bitter Oleander features an interview with the Swiss Francophone poet José-Flore Tappy as well as a selection of her poetry that has been translated from French by John Taylor. Tappy has written five volumes of verse and currently works as an editor and scholar at the Centre de Recherches sur les Lettres Romandes at the University of Lausanne.

In an introduction to the feature, Taylor says that Tappy's diction is "straightforward, factual, down-to-earth. She appeals to ordinary things and natural elements for her imagery and metaphors. Her poems can thus seem 'simple' or, more precisely, 'elemental' . . ."

The interview asks questions about Tappy's inspiration, her methods, and the ideas and messages she conveys in her poetry. Following the interview are passages from her Filings and Elementals.

And of course there is more to read within the pages of the issue. There is original poetry, poetry in translation, and new short fiction.