Leigh Kotsilidis Discusses Science and Metaphor with rob mclennan

In an interview with poet rob mclennan, Leigh Kotsilidis explains the theoretical underpinnings of her debut collection, Hypotheticals, and she divulges the greatest—and most succinct—piece of advice she ever received.

rob mclennan: Where does a poem usually begin for you?

Leigh Kotsilidis: Poems usually begin for me with a collection of random lines that I've written down over a long period of time. I often find that some of these lines relate, they may just need some tweaking or connective tissue to work together. The process of creating poems for me is closer to assembling lines than it is writing.

rm: Do you have any theoretical concerns behind your writing?

LK: My collection Hypotheticals is primarily engaged with how people use science as metaphor to understand or explain their lives, and how these metaphors then work to reinforce and/or undermine beliefs. In some ways, these poems are my attempt to expose our own unreliabilities, as well as the fallibility of science; especially when our personal opinions and the theories we put stock in will invariably change.

rm: What is the best piece of advice you've heard?

LK: Relax.

To read the full interview, click here.