Project Bookshelf: Mari Hailu

sundresspublications

11 years ago

What’s On Mari Hailu’s Bookshelf?

Greek Mythology: This is a large category, I know. Right now, I am working on Ovid’s Metomorphoses, and The Aeneid is next on my list.
Poetry Collections: I like to really get in the head of a poet, so I prefer small collections rather than anthologies. My favorites right now include I hope it’s not over and good-by by Everette Maddox, Seam by Tarfia Faizullah, and Wolf Face by Matt Hart. A few poets who have influenced me greatly and are not on that list are Rumi (especially “Music Master”), W.H. Auden (especially “As I Walked Out One Evening”) and Frank O’Hara (especially “Why I Am Not A Painter”). Auden’s poem is one that I read in high school, and is largely responsible for my decision to study poetry in college. I will never get over the line, “The glacier knocked in the cupboard.”
For my story fix, right now I am reading The Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing. It is not on my bookshelf because I keep it in my car to try and read snippets during my breaks at work. I am also reading a collection of short stories by Jhumpa Lahiri entitled Unaccustomed Earth.
This list could go on forever, to which I am sure you can relate, but I will stop there!
*The picture is of my favorite bookshelf. I made it the summer I moved into this apartment.

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Mari Hailu is a recent graduate of Southern Methodist University where she received her Bachelor of Arts degrees in Music and Creative Writing. She enjoys writing of all kinds, but poetry is her true love. She lives and works in Dallas, and plans to pursue her MFA in poetry in the near future. Her hobbies include running, and playing upright bass with various groups of musicians in the Dallas area.