Treasuring Poetry – Meet poet Maggie Watson and a review of Pieces of Me, A collection of poems #TreasuringPoetry #poetrycommunity #bookreview

Picture caption: Treasuring Poetry 2024 banner

Today, I am delighted to introduce poet, Maggie Watson. Maggie writes incredibly compelling poetry which you can find on her blog here: Ephemeral Encounters

Over to Maggie

Robbie, thank you so much for inviting me to be your guest on Treasuring Poetry. I loved your questions, and I hope everyone finds my answers, at the very least, a little interesting.

My favourite style of poetry to read is haiku.

Haiku poems are easy on the eye, yet they can evoke strong emotions in a few words. If a poem is too long, I lose interest halfway through unless it grabs me in the first couple of lines.

My favourite haiku is “A Poppy Blooms” by Katsushika Hokusai

I write, erase, rewrite

Erase again, and then

A poppy blooms.

The writer here uses the imagery of spring to describe his writing process.

I would use winter, as I sometimes find the whole writing process frustrating, especially when I am blocked, staring at a blank piece of paper (a barren landscape in winter).

My favourite style of writing poetry is freestyle. I am ashamed to say that I have not tried any other style. I did attempt a few haiku a while back, but not consistently. As I write, it comes from my heart and soul and usually reflects my mood or thoughts at that moment. I hope no one shoots me down in flames for saying this, but poetry should be as free as a bird set free, not confined or restricted to parameters.

My favourite poem written by me is one of the first I ever wrote in 2020, one of the better ones, I hasten to add. The Mask is also in my new Collection, Pieces of Me and is related to the subject matter.

She puts it on before she goes outside,

just in case anyone should see inside.

The darkness, the hurt, the years ripped and scarred with dirt.

No one knows.

No one cares.

They only see the Mask she wears.

She tries but can’t forget all the angry words and threats buried deep within and the pain that never seems to dim.

So she smiles, wears the Mask, and hopes that no one ever asks.

I had originally planned to call this collection Bouquets of Barbed Wire, however, it was a little too close to the title of a television programme that I remember my parents watching, so I decided against it.

Pieces of Me is another poem from another Collection, “In the Shadow of my Pen: A Collection of Poetry and Prose.

Not long after joining WordPress, David from A Skeptics Kaddish reblogged it. I then decided to write two other parts, all three are in the new Collection. The new collection is my story in poems about my abusive relationship. The main form of abuse was gaslighting, which is a gradual erosion of your spirit, piece by piece. By sharing my story, I hope to inspire others to do the same.

Thank you again Robbie for giving me this space.

It’s my pleasure, Maggie. Thank you for being a wonderful guest.

My review of Pieces of Me, A collection of poems by Maggie Watson Picture caption: Cover of Pieces of Me by Maggie Watson

Pieces of Me is a collection of powerful poems written by a survivor of domestic abuse. The abuse the poet suffered was not physical or sexual, but rather mental. The kind that slowly and insidiously destroys your spirit.

The collection is divided into parts reflecting the various stages of the poet’s abuse from the early days of her marriage until she found the determination and courage to exit her destructive relationship.

Red light spells danger: These poems are about the warning signs that the poet was to young and inexperienced to understand. It is awful to think of a young person being lured into such a terrible set of circumstances like a fly into a spider web.

“I was blind.
I did not see it.
Too young, too naive.
Red light spells danger, but I ignored the colour of your aura.”
An extract from Red Lights Spell Danger

When I think back over my own youth, I sigh with relief that I never fell victim to such a man’s charms. It could have happened so easily as we are gullible and innocent when we are young.

Eggshells is the next section and eloquently describes living with a bully and gas lighter.

“A soul in pain, cute with a blade, the wound
then stitched together with words unkind
Spirit erased, replaced with doubts and fears.
Thoughts of unworthiness grow among the stitches sown
Drip, drip, they slowly infiltrate the mind.”
Extract from Soul in Pain

I am becoming is an uplifting section where the poet describes her escape from the vicious clutches of her abuser and path towards reclaiming her life.

“Never be a lamb to their slaughter
don’t let them watch you bleed
It is they who are weak as they plant their
seeds in your womb
for the pleasure that they seek.”

A collection of strongly worded and evocative poems that make you walk the poet’s path hand-in-hand with her. With compassion comes understanding. 

Purchase Pieces of Me: A collection of poems from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DH32JKQ8

About Maggie Watson Picture caption: Maggie Watson author picture

Maggie was born in Cape Town, South Africa.

She now lives in Scotland.

She has CFS which is a very debilitating/unpredictable illness, but she refuses to let that define her.

She began writing in 2020 at the start of the Pandemic.

At that point, she had no idea it would play such a huge part in her life as it does now!

In 2021 she self-published her first collection of poetry and has since self-published five others.

Maggie draws a lot on her life experiences when she writes.

As a Domestic Abuse Survivor she uses her voice through her words to empower.

Her work has also been published by Gypsophila Zine, Glass Gates Publishing, Spill Words and Edge of Humanity and others.

And, also included in three anthologies.

For more examples of her writing visit her blog here: https://poetrybymaggiewatson.uk/