Interview with Poet Isabelle Baafi on Writing and Creativity

In discussing her writing rituals, Baafi explains that she employs diverse methods depending on the form she is working with. While some structured forms require a complete draft from start to finish, her poems often emerge from complex truths or layered ideas that are unresolved. Free-writing can lead to the identification of resonant lines or images, with multiple editing sessions shaping the final product over time. She views chaos as a precursor to creation, akin to fire that purges yet facilitates new life.

Mishler inquires about Baafi's “effect” poems—pieces named after observable principles across various fields. Each section of her book begins with an effect, reflecting dynamics that may seem contradictory yet shape our understanding of the world. The Kuleshov effect, an editing principle in film, inspired poignant reflections on identity and context, while the Mpemba effect prompted explorations of nonlinear transformations in relationships. Baafi mentions her poem on the bystander effect as particularly relevant given current societal issues.

Baafi values creative constraints, like working within formal structures, as they stimulate discovery and keep her imagination engaged. She often finds that using specific forms can enhance thematic exploration, especially regarding memory, cycles, and the interplay between past and future.

Dreams play a significant role in Baafi's creative process. During a challenging winter in 2022, she committed to daily free-writing upon waking, often delving into dream content that allowed for authentic and radical self-expression. This practice influenced many poems in her collection, underscoring the importance of tapping into the subconscious.

The title *Chaotic Good* has evolved for Baafi since its inception. Initially reflecting the chaos often associated with disorder, she has come to see it as life’s fertile potential. The collection highlights how chaos can lead to transformation, paralleling revolutions arising from upheaval.

Baafi admits that surprise during the writing process is vital; she believes that poetry should evoke discovery. Poems that challenge linear logic have been particularly surprising for her, revealing layers of her childhood and adolescence.

Mishler asks about the effects discussed in her poems and if they feel constraining or allow for disruption. Baafi perceives these effects as principles that illuminate human experiences and vulnerabilities. She chooses to view them as opportunities for introspection and growth while acknowledging the world’s brutality.

The interplay between inevitability and free will underlies much of her work. Baafi seeks to create visceral and immediate experiences for the reader, dramatizing facets of memory while exploring the tension between determinism and agency within her narratives.

Ultimately, Baafi highlights the joy of exploration through expressive lyricism, signaling a willingness to uncover paths that lead beyond apparent limits.