Hello, fellow disciples! We've been searching far and wide for individuals who have cultivated for a long time. This month, we bring to you an interview with Queen_of_life_Heba, the author of Forgotten.

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Tell us a bit about yourself!

I am just another person, seeking to give a voice to her thoughts and feelings via writing. My introduction to writing began with poetry and it spread out to many different genres such as horror, paranormal and mystery-thriller. Other than writing, I enjoy listening to music, playing word games, reading and drawing mandalas. Oh! I aspire to be a historian as well.

What is your writing process? How do you pick the which words to include in your poem?

My writing process is whimsical. I do have a routine but I think my best pieces come into being when the muse hits me with full intensity. As for the words, I don't choose them but they choose me.  

What are some things that influenced your poem?

Human emotions. Mythologies around the world. Life and death. The various sides of love and the one only nature. There is no muse greater than nature for a poet. 

Pick one of your poems and tell us the backstory. How was it developed and what emotions did you hope to evoke from the reader?

I pick the first poem in my collection which is an adoration to the goddess Isis (Aset/Aeset). It came to me early in the morning, just as I had woken up. I immediately took out a diary and scribbled it down.

From this poem I want my readers to feel love and respect for this most wonderful goddess who captures all and every form of womanhood. She is ambitious, cunning if needed, loving and a mother. There is nothing you can do but love her. 

What were some challenges you experienced while creating this poem?

None. Often with other poems, I face many problems writing them. Sometimes I go through writer's block in the midst of writing a poem. But this one? It was as if I wasn't writing but my hands had developed a mind of their own. I enjoyed writing this adoration a lot. 

If you woke up in a time or place that was very different from reality, what would you do?

I would be very, very scared. I would cry for a while. Then I might try to know more about the ways and customs of that time/place so that I can blend in. Or maybe I might not do anything but just cry and cry. 

If you could share only one poem with a stranger, what would it be and why?

I have three. First, is The Dash by Linda Ellis. It is a beautiful poem with lucid language and a smooth narrative with a very deep theme of how life is something which should be cherished.

Second, Stopping By Woods on a Snow Evening by Robert. This is one of the most inspiring poems of all time in my opinion. I reread it whenever I feel down about what I am doing or when facing a failure.

Lastly, the 116th sonnet of Shakespeare. This is my favourite out of all the sonnets. The way Shakespeare describes the everlasting nature of love is just Mesmerizing. It is something we need to read and understand. 

Would you rather go through a lifetime of never finding love or be willing to go through several lifetimes of hardships just to save your love? Why?

This is such a difficult question! I don't think that I can properly answer it but maybe I might pick the latter option. 

What is your favorite creature from Asian mythology or folklore? Why?

There are so many! But onryō from Japanese folklore has captured my attention the most. Onryō is the vengeful spirits of the dead who wreak havoc on the lives of the living. They do so to exact vengeance on those who had wronged them when alive. But the more you delve into them, the more interesting it gets. Plus, the famous film series, Grudge, is based on the lore of onryō!

What is your favorite Asian myth? Why?

The tale of Shiva and Sati. A god and a goddess go through numerous hardships to be with each other. It's what you can call a love story but on a divine scale, a precious love story that should be cherished. 

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Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us, Ruhika! We wish you the best of luck in your writing endeavors.

Until the next chapter, fellow disciples!