Issue 4: Suzi Mezei
“Halfway through the flood the iguanas filed for divorce / but Noah had a thing for pairs.”
~ Two by Two by Suzi Mezei
Your poem “Two by Two” is a reimagining of the story of Noah’s Ark, influenced by magic realism, animal ethics and feminism. Can you tell us more about the inspiration behind this piece?
You chose a great theme for Issue 4. When I think of double, I think of ‘two.’ The Two-by-Two song still surfaces in my head occasionally.
The Noah’s Ark story was a childhood favourite. I owned a small black suitcase filled with miniature plastic animals. When I played with them, I used to group them so they wouldn’t be lonely!
But I also suffered from early-onset cynicism. I began to question, doubt and eventually lament the biblical concept (religious school) of human Dominion over other animals and nature.
My affinity to animals is lifelong. I read authors and philosophers like Raimond Gaita, Johnathon Safran-Foer, Peter Singer and Jane Goodall. It occurred to me we are more than capable of hearing the voices of other animals but that it’s too inconvenient for us to actually listen. We now face the extinction of many species.
Noah’s priority is the word of his ‘God.’ The animals come second. Religion, superstition and folklore often presents animals as ‘lesser beings.’
In the context of the poem, all characters are entitled to be heard; even the traditionally oppressed. I was inspired by the magic realism of Elif Shafak and Sarah Winman to convey this.
Which brings me to feminism and the historical portrayal of women in literature. I wanted Noah’s partner to be equally visible; an independent thinker, a sentient presence, more closely linked with nature than her counterpart whose leadership in the floods was bestowed by supernatural ‘He.’ This is a shift in focus from the traditional biblical/patriarchal notion of ‘man saves world.’
This piece is filled with sly and playful observations. Is humour an important part of your writing process?
Humour is the most challenging part of my writing process. I would love to be more skilled at it. I tend to run my attempts at written humour past family, or any other unsuspecting bystanders. Even a glimmer of a smile makes me hopeful.
Everything I’ve read or seen on screen or stage confirms that humour provides a sliver of light in even the darkest story; it adds depth and accessibility.
I’d love to hear more about your current writing projects and what a ‘typical’ writing day may look like for you?
At the moment, I’m grouping poems for possible collections. I also constantly write new ones and experiment with form. I am trying to hone my short story skills and I sporadically add new content to my emerging novella. I’ve also returned to essay writing which is triggering painful memories of bibliography, ibid, footnotes and deadlines.
I’m always on the look out for competitions and submission opportunities.
A writing day consists of about 5-7 hours of writing. Some of it is spent researching. Between blocks, I take short breaks and walk away from my computer, commune with dogs and humans, buy coffee, op shop, harass the indoor and the outdoor plants and complete mundane domestic tasks.
When I return to my writing, the changes I need to make become highly visible. A quick spritz of real-life influences everything.
Titles and first lines for various pieces are often formed subconsciously when I’m waiting for a train or watching the mulberries grow. If I’m out, I write directly on to my phone and transcribe it later.
What were some of your favourite reads from this year?
There are many. My favourites include:
Elif Shafak’s ‘The Island of Missing Trees’. I was enamoured, ate several figs and am now growing an indoor fig tree ala Yusuf and Yiorgos from the novel.
I loved Alice Pung’s ‘One Hundred Days’ and was intrigued by Fernanda Melchor’s ‘Paradais’. Both explore familiar themes through different cultures eg superstition, repression and desperation.
I read ‘Monkey Boy’ by Francisco Goldman, shortlisted for the Pulitzer about a photojournalist of Jewish/Guatemalan descent. Themes included race, trauma and family relationships but the book brimmed with humour and warmth.
I am currently reading ‘The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida’ winner of The Booker Prize by Sri Lankan author Shehan Karunatilaka. It’s brilliant; smart, hilarious and harrowing and I’m not just saying that because I was born in Sri Lanka!
Suzi Mezei (she/her), lives on Kulin land. She is a Sri Lankan born Australian writer. Her work appears in print and online in Australia and overseas and in anthologies such as ‘Best of Australian Poems 2022’ and journals including The Amphibian, Cordite and Burrow. She won the Mayor’s Award for Writing and is planning to enhance a poetry and story collection during an Artist’s Residency at Point Nepean in 2023. She is currently providing room service for her two dogs and her daughter’s cat and bird who are visiting for the holidays.