SplashHall Scribe Interviews The Beautiful Kara Campbell AKA Splash Poet Elise

Dear Splashers, this week I bring you a very special person – Kara Campbell a.k.a Elise from Dallas, Texas. Warm, friendly, poetic and very very human, she loves being herself and makes me love her too for the same reason. Say hello to this extremely special and beautiful Splasher, who very sweetly agreed to be in the spotlight this week.

SW: What breezes brought you to SplashHall in the first place?
Elise: Well, believe it or not, the new chatroom in Voodoo isnt the first place "Splashers" got together. I was chatting in the old Babbleon, and surfed into the Poetry room there one day. Rg and daisy welcomed me there, and that is where I discovered the SplashBoards. There were lots of live fun poetry events and challenges, and if life ever slows down enough for me I hope to check out the VooDoo room.

SW: What brought you back here after a lengthy absence?
Elise: The obvious answer to that is...Poetry. Being here with people who share my love of poetry inspires me like nothing else, and that is why I have returned after a lengthy absence.

SW: Your favorite forum?
Elise: Genuine Splashers Poetry and Prose Forum---I just love reading the work of fellow Splashers.

SW: Your favorite Splashers?
Elise: I have MANY favorite Splashers for various reasons.

Witt is the most inspirational one to me. She kindly took me under her poetic chicken wing and taught me about meter and rhyme. I have her to thank for teaching me the basics and editing my work during a time when she was still teaching and very busy. She gives of herself unselfishly, and has influenced my work a great deal. I am happy also to consider her a dear and very talented friend.

Rg...for tirelessly creating and updating the boards for the pleasure of the Splashers. It is STILL truly the best Poetry forum around. Thank you Rg.

Sunny...whose name fits her perfectly. Always a cheerful word for everyone, and a constant friend.

daisy...so good to see her back, as she is a dear friend and a wonderful talent.

Sartor...whose words continually carry me to another place. He writes beautifully, and is also a friend.

A-Friend (Earl) whose dedication to truth and justice inspires me...He has remained a dear friend to me, even during my absence from Splash.

Word Faery, Merlin, Windspirit, Breathingwolf, Balladeer...Their talent shines, and I always look forward to reading anything new they write.

Cy Street---always gives us a sideways, yet captivating, glimpse of things and is very talented.

Lucy , Arti, Allen, Jack and Bryan...Dublinsteve...new friends who because of their warmth and eagerness to make others feel special...make Splash a better place. I am just getting to know their work and look forward to reading much more of it.

Dutch---because he is a dear friend to me, and is a unique human being who drinks in life in a very special way.

Weaver---long gone from Splash, but far from gone from my heart. We keep in touch and he is doing well. Truly a poetic genius, he has influenced my own work a great deal.

There are many others...AlluraD included...whose work I enjoy. There are many many more...and I am sure I will kick myself when their name pops into my head later.

SW: When did you start writing?
Elise: I started writing when I was 19.

SW: How much do you use the Ax? How much has the Ax helped you?
Elise: I used to use it a great deal when Witt was the only one who chopped up the poems...but now it skeers me...lol

SW: I've noticed you write form poetry. Do you prefer structured verse to free verse?
Elise: It depends on my mood. I write both kinds actually...but yes, I do love rhyme and structure. It moves me in a way that free verse doesn't .

SW: What reading would you recommend?
Elise: All of the great poets for different reasons...Emily Dickinson and Franz Wright to enjoy the power of brevity, and any form and genre that touches your mind or transports your soul.

SW: You are one of our earliest Splashers. What changes do you find, and how does it compare?
Elise: The changes I have found on returning are mostly good ones. Lots of responding to work, and a witty and playful thread running through these responses. I love how they make me smile. I would like to see a bit less criticism outside the Ax though.

SW: What do you think are the strongest influences on your writing?
Elise: Life influences my poetry the most...the highs, the lows, the environment, politics, injustice, music. Also, other poets and people I love.

SW: What are your other interests, hobbies and passions?
Elise: I am an RN...and my work is my passion. As hokey as it sounds, I truly love nurturing and easing the pain of patients and family members...as an ER Nurse I am often the central figure dealing with a patient undergoing profound trauma. I view my responsibility here very seriously and recognize the impact I have on their experience.

I have a younger brother, Wesley, who is terminally ill...as some of you know. He was infected with HIV at age 3 from a blood transfusion, and will soon be 28. He is also infected with Hepatitis C from blood. He was born with hemophilia, a bleeding disorder, which is why he received the blood. I applied to, and was appointed to President Clinton's HIV Advisory Committee to get changes made to legislature regulating the nation's blood banks to make the blood supply safer. I waved a banner on the capital steps and helped get a bill passed in Congress...I continue to write letters to Congressmen. I learned that we CAN make a difference, and this is something I am very passionate about.
A friend of mine made me a page for Wesley if you would like to see it: http://www.lisascreations.co.uk/Wesley.html

To those of you who pray, please keep Wesley in yours.

My hobbies include, but are not limited to, purse-making, quilting, music, dancing, reading, and spending time with my tiny toy apricot poodle Rusty.

SW: How much does poetry rule your life?
Elise: It doesn't. My life rules my poetry.

SW: Anything special you'd like to say to everyone here?
Elise: It's great to be back, and I am thrilled with all the new people and talent here, and to see old friends still hanging in there. I am completely re-dedicated, and re-inspired and hope to continue to interact with all of you for a very long time. Thank you to everyone for welcoming me back so warmly.