In a recent interview, poet Rebecca Perry recalled the moment she first encountered the work of Federico García Lorca, describing it as a revelation. “Lorca hit me like a bolt of lightning,” she said, capturing the intensity of that initial reading.
A transformative discovery
Perry explained that the discovery came at a formative time in her life, when she was beginning to explore her own voice as a writer. The Spanish poet's imagery and emotional depth left a lasting impression, influencing her approach to language and form.
She noted that Lorca's ability to blend the personal with the universal resonated deeply, offering a model for how poetry could address both individual experience and broader human themes.
Impact on her work
Since that moment, Perry has continued to draw on Lorca's influence, though she emphasized that her own work remains distinctly her own. The encounter, she said, was less about imitation and more about permission—permission to take risks and to trust in the power of the poetic image.
The interview offers readers a glimpse into the creative process of a poet whose work has been shaped by a profound literary encounter, one that continues to inform her practice today.
