Sonia Nicholson’s work has appeared in various publications including Inspirelle, Literary Heist, Pinhole Poetry, Heimat Review, and Rivanna Review. Her writing regularly explores themes of identity, family, and place. A first-generation Canadian who grew up in a Portuguese immigrant household, she was born and raised in Osoyoos, British Columbia. Sonia holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in French and Spanish from the University of Victoria, and continues to call Victoria home. Her debut novel, Provenance Unknown, was published in 2023 by Sands Press.
You can read her poem stitch (in time) in the October 2023 issue.
Would you like to tell us a little bit more about your poem? For instance, how or why you wrote it, or perhaps provide some extra context?
stitch (in time) was inspired by a project I have been working on for several months in an untouched 1905 farmhouse. My job has been to lead the staging of this historic house, which was in total disarray inside. For me as an archivist as well as personally, it was important for me to respect the family that lived there. I am merely a guest. When there is so much of everything that it’s not possible to see anything, though, you have to find a balance between sorting through the debris of the life of a family and telling their story in a way that’s authentic to who they were. I knew I wanted to write a poem about this special place and this experience, but it wasn’t until I saw the DIALOGUE photograph that the words came.
Why was the poetic form the best fit for this particular piece of work?
The family who lived in the historic house which inspired the poem was thrifty and known for keeping everything. I found incredible records of everyday life hidden in every nook and cranny, in the bowels of every closet. So the objects inside were very much a hodgepodge, dispersed throughout. The patterns didn’t emerge until later. Once they did, though, the story became clear. Poetry is the same. It allowed me to mirror the family’s lifestyle itself; for example, I didn’t want to use more words than absolutely necessary and at the same time, they had to be scattered. The story isn’t fully revealed until the end. I like to think the family would approve.
Do you have a collection of poetry or even a single poem that acts as a touchstone?
The poem that I return to over and over again, which has stayed with me for decades and accompanied me on my writing journey, is somewhere i have never travelled, gladly beyond by e.e. cummings. It’s simple and complex and beautiful. It’s like a friend. I never tire of it, and I always learn something new no matter how often I look it up. He has been my strongest influence as a poet.
If you didn’t write poetry, how do you think you might access the same fulfillments that poetry offers in your life?
I think any artistic pursuit, whether obvious or subtle, could fill the role that poetry plays for me. Currently I use poetry as a sort of “palette cleanser” between writing novels, but it’s always been my first love. It’s pure creativity without the pressure of musts or shoulds. But that same creativity, that same lightness, could come from making pasta from scratch (which is equally as forgiving as poetry), or learning — in my case, re-learning — to play an instrument. The essential part is that element of pure joy. Creation for creation’s sake.
How do you revise your work?
Pure instinct. Reading aloud, of course. But mainly it’s the feeling of the thing, and that tingling that tells me I’ve got it right. It’s not at all a scientific method. In truth, I don’t edit much when it comes to poetry and for that, I’m both lucky and grateful. When the words flow, they generally flow as they’re meant to be.
What are you working on now?
Poetry is temporarily on hold (until it demands my attention, or until I need that escape) while I work on my third novel. This book — which wasn’t my originally-intended third novel, nor was it even on my radar — came out of nowhere and took over my brain and life for a time. The planning that had taken months and months for my initial book number three spilled out in two days. That kind of urgency is hard to ignore. So, this project is my priority for the next while.
Do you belong to a writer’s group? If not, where do you find poetry community and feedback?
I am fortunate to have found kindred spirits to support me on my writing journey: a critique group of fellow archivists aptly named Archivists Who Write (AWW). Mutual support. Sharing the creative outlet that writing provides, whether it’s poetry, novels, scripts, children’s books, or plays. Coming from completely different genres is a good thing. We learn so much more from each other this way and receive valuable feedback and perspectives we might not otherwise have access to.