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Erika Brincat is a young and up-coming poet with a penchant for things Eastern. She is widely-travelled and has drawn inspiration from her experiences. Erika is not one to go for organised religion, believes all major religions have something to offer and that each individual has to find their own personal beliefs. Erika has published three poetry books, the last of which was published last weekend. Julian Manduca caught up with her this week.
You are establishing yourself as a poet and writer of some repute, do you attribute your talents to anyone in your family?
An old friend of mine said I must have inherited my writing skills from my father and she’s probably right. My grandfather was a very creative man and although I never met him in person I remember a house full of paintings inspired by religion and mythology, and I must owe a good deal of my creative spirit to him!
You have published three books of poems, ‘Gateway to Infinity,’ ‘The Bridge between Heaven and Earth’ and now ‘Leela’s Game,’ briefly how would you compare them?
‘Gateway to Infinity’ is about Mystery, Magick, Goddesses, and Love. Some of the poetry is very dark and personal. In comparison, ‘The Bridge Between Heaven & Earth’ is much lighter, both in feel and content, describing journeys through Malta, Atlantis, Egypt and India. ‘Leela’s Game’ like its name is more playful, more subtle & simple.
Your work is inspired by Eastern thought, are you inclined to any particular spiritual direction and if so what are its main messages?
Every individual should have the freedom to create their own religion, incorporating all that is in tune with them. Modern day lives have become so complicated, so intricate, we need to recreate our own guidelines. But no, I don’t follow any particular spiritual direction.
For me it’s not about choosing between Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism or Paganism but embracing all of them in some way. The essential message remains the same.
Anything that celebrates life and adds some spice to it is spiritual in itself. Some people don’t philosophise about it, don’t write or read about it - they simply dance it, enjoy it and live it!
Buddhists practice non-attachment and prize experience over belief, do you try to live according to Buddhist thought?
No, not really. I have my attachments and desires like anybody else, and I could never claim to practise Buddhism in its traditional form. However, I agree with the Indian mystic Osho that we are all born enlightened, we are all Buddhas really, and yet we seem to have forgotten it or we are afraid to face the truth, because that truth would bring tremendous freedom but also tremendous responsibility.
Do you write poems mostly for yourself, to reach other people or is a matter of mortals trying to create the immortal?
I started off writing poetry purely for myself. It just happened.
If I did not put pen to paper I would not be able to sleep - I would be a very restless soul! But then something propelled me to share them and I have no regrets whatsoever. Some poems are purely personal, others are universal, and anyone can relate to them in their own way.
I like to think we are immortal beings having a temporary experience! Why bottle up all our fears and emotions till they poison us inside? Better to express them, to share them, release them and let them go.
Which poets do you admire or which would you advise budding poets to read?
Ironically I don’t read much poetry, although the best Indian poet ever to have lived must be Rabindranath Tagore. Even to look at him, he is grace personified. His most famous book the ‘Gitanjali’ is a beautiful song offering of classical Indian love poetry and devotion to the Supreme. All the works of Khalil Gibran also come highly recommended!
Frans Sammut wrote about you: “The young poet strives to explain her feelings and ideas by making use of myths carrying erotic connotations precisely by deriving lofty spiritual meanings from their voluptuousness.” What can you tell us about the erotic qualities of your poetry?
Life would be very dry if it had no love, no eroticism in it!
In essence we are all sexual beings. Both men and women yearn to be whole, and naturally eroticism has a great part to play in that.
If poetry is the yearning of the soul, than without doubt it will have some erotic qualities to it. It seems I have managed to avoid the question! Maybe the poetry speaks for itself.
You do a lot of travelling to other countries, what do these journeys add to the ones you do inside yourself?
New friendships, new insights, adventure and colour! If I am in one place for too long I tend to stagnate a little. Travelling makes me feel more alive, more vibrant, and protected by something bigger than ourselves. But in the end, wherever you go and whoever you share this life experience with, you always have to face your self, so it’s best to be content with your own company. It may seem negative but it is not – we are born alone and we die alone, so the journey inside is definitely the most important one.
What are your future plans?
At the moment I’m just taking it day by day. I really want to give Malta a chance and try to make my home here, to put down my roots.
I’m probably also looking for that little extra reason to stay here! But if things don’t fall into place, there are always other possibilities.
If you could change three things in Malta what would these be?
Easy. Although I need a whole list!
I would ban hunting completely.
Or at least enforce a very high eco-tax on all hunting equipment and assign designated safe spaces for this ‘sport’. Why haven’t silent guns been introduced yet? I find both the actual killing as well as the high level of noise pollution disturbing. I live close to the countryside and its pretty quiet but the shooting simply shatters the peace! As a teenager it used to make me very angry and I can hardly believe it is still going on.
Then I would make sure all the streets were smooth and one level so we could stop breaking our backs, and stressing each other out with road rage. The way we drive here is a real death-wish - absolutely insane!
More underground parking would also help give people the option of avoiding parking tickets they cannot always afford.
Last of all I would remove the large percentage of tasteless billboards. Promoting Maltese food in the midst of exhaust fumes, for example, is not very appetising!
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