SplashHall Reporter Sits Down With Splash Poet Soft Words AKA Arti Subramanian

SplashHallers, when I cajoled SoftWords into this interview, these were her initial comments:

SoftWords: Thank you, sweet Shoes. I have a couple of shoe bites on my feet, but that's immaterial at this point. I stuck in my answers in red, what else?! The rebel rules, so conventional black is out, it's red for today.

My full, real name is Arti Subramanian. Somewhere in the future (say two years down the line) you can add a Dr. before my name. I think my mental age most of the time is about four, I don't believe in growing up. I believe I have a sense of humor, but its currently lost under loads of studying.

c_s: It is with pride and pleasure that I introduce Arti Subramanian,
aka SoftWords. I'm sure you will all agree that I offer you a special treat this week.

c_s: SoftWords, what brought you to SplashHall?
SoftWords: Well... I heard about Splash first from Sandy (Bittersweet). She told me about this place, and sent me a link... I came, I saw, I stayed. I think one of the first forums I stepped into was the Ax, I saw the kind of critiquing and the easy camaraderie that was here, and got hooked.

c_s: And what keeps you here?
SoftWords: Interesting question... Poetry, easy camaraderie, honest critiques, serious poets.

c_s: Do you have a favourite forum?
SoftWords: The Ax... of course! Besides, I love the romance and dark poetry sections too.

c_s: Does your education affect your writing style?
SoftWords: To a huge extent. I was taught to be able to express myself in simple words, create visual images with words, and chop out profanity from my language... entirely. I've been told my language is equivalent to that of an 18th century girl in that respect, lol... It certainly spills over into my poetry (you should know that, Shoes! You've pointed it out to me before!)

Being in medicine also lets me see people in ways very few others see them. I see grief and anger in extreme forms, as also happiness, denial, etc. etc. Experiences from that turn into poetry too.

c_s: Speaking of education, could you tell us something about your medical studies?
SoftWords: My medical studies... I'm currently preparing for my boards (read late night studies). I'm ready to enter the clinical phase in about 3 months, following the exam. So for all practical purposes, I'm a doctor in theory, with a small but (until August) regular patient exposure. (I think I sound like a geek.. but I guess 10 hours of studying in one day does that to my brains... lol)

c_s: Other than medical school and poetry, what consumes your waking hours?
SoftWords: I make it a point to go out everyday... away from the computer, out of the house for at least an hour. I also spend time catching up with my parents, I've three years of talk to catch up on! Add catching up with friends, keeping in touch with former classmates and teachers, fighting with my brother, racking up the phone bills, housework, etc.

We're shifting house soon (either this week or the next), so while on one hand we're having our furniture polished, waxed and strengthened and some of it remodeled, on the other hand it means the house is a complete woebegone mess. So one of my current jobs includes searching for things thrown out of the furniture thats being worked on... the list currently includes books, wires, cellphone chargers, socks, id's and the ubiquitous shoe... lolol.

c_s: I have, on more than one occasion, referred to the rebel in your soul, SoftWords. Do you agree with me? How did this delightful rebel evolve? Is she likely to one day break completely free?
SoftWords: I agree with you, c_s... lolol. She evolved out of, what else, rebellion. I wasn't made to be an angel, so the non-angel parts of me banded into the rebel. She is free... She has sprung out on the most (in)opportune moments, like my high school graduation (I violated the dress code, and refused to walk in 3-inch high demons bought specially for the occasion), with friends who are in a relationship (Call up one partner pretending to be the other, fix an appointment, and show up to console the poor dolt), go against the rules (none of my friends try talking "fashion" and "style" to me anymore - the only rule I follow is comfort, even if it means appearing like a dwarf in a land of giants at a party).. my closest friends could give you a better idea than I can.

Speaking of friends, one thing they hate about me is my utter disregard for authority... I make my own rules, I go get what I want. Unless, the angel in me (by some miracle) gets stronger than the rebel.

The rebel in me rarely gets poetic, she prefers prose for venting. Or she'd much rather hit a pillow if the real victim aint around for a little finetuning.

c_s: Are there any modifications that Lord + Master ( Rg, aka the Janitor) could implement to improve SplashHall?
SoftWords: (Shoes, between you and me, I'm too much of a baby for this!)

c_s: Why don't you ever join me for a brisk round of haiku tag?
SoftWords: I will, dear Shoes, I will do that when I can think beyond diseases. Haiku Tag takes thinking power, which unfortunately I have in short supply.

c_s: Ah, yes. You have become a classy addition there. I thank you for your delicate presence in our Haiku Playland ( which is all too often a Kissy Box). Tell me, Arti, what is your philosophy of critique dispensing?
SoftWords: Respect! Poetry is an expression of somebody's thoughts. Critique the thought, or the way in which it is expressed - don't critique the person.

c_s: Are you a firm believer in "edit, edit edit"?
SoftWords: I believe in editing, yes, but not to the extent that the original thought is lost. I generally write something, leave it alone for a couple of days and then get back to it. It allows me to be a bit more objective about the write, I can think more clearly that way.

c_s: Has your style changed at all since you became active here?
SoftWords: Definitely. I'd written two freestyles before I came here, I usually do rhyming writes, or "form" poetry with rigid sets of rules. I've written a lot more freestyle, cut out modifiers (okay, not so successful there, but I'm learning to think without them), play with line breaks, get free with expression, experiment with images... I could go on and on.

c_s: What are your publishing ambitions?
SoftWords: Ambitions? There was a point when all I wanted was to write, now I dream about one book with my name on it. Poetry or prose. Something tells me it will be poetry though... Yes, I do write prose as well. I've a couple of pieces published here and there, but prose is usually when I'm angry (read "when the rebel takes over completely")

c_s: What would you like to say to all your fans and friends at SplashHall?
SoftWords: Fans? I didn't know I had any!
As for all my friends, thank you for being yourselves, and for not hesitating to correct me (you know who you are!), and for sharing some of the best poetry ever written!

SplashHallers: Now it's time for you delightful guests at Rg's shabby chic hotel to let SoftWords know how her excellent poetry and the rebel in her toes have stirred your literary senses. Not a Splasher? Visit Arti at the SplashHall Forums Today.