A space to tell : writing poetry in a second language

Distinct from the increasing interest in Research on L2 creative writing in a pedagogical context, this practice-based PhD research attempts to situate the process of writing poetry in a second language as a creative practice in its own right. This enquiry focuses not only on the outcome of my creative practice, which is memory poetry: poetry of remembrance, in a second language, but also reaches through the process and methodology towards opening the way to developing artistic practice, of writing poetry in a second language as the production of knowledge in action and as a genre, of finding my voices, of my transformation from a reader, a language learner into a writer and of contributing insights toward the definition of a second language poetry. Self-reflection and critical investigation of Women poets of Asian background, namely: Kamala Das, Eunice De Souza, and Jennifer Wong, facilitate cultural learning; a valuable source of authentic materials that makes me able to reflect my own identities and to write my own memory poetry. By combining autobiography, memory and second language creative writing, I develop a collection of poetry consisting of 70 poems within five thematic issues: Memories of Mother and Daughter in an Islamic and Matrilineal Society, Memories of Diabetes Heritage, Study Abroad Setting, Motherhood PhD and The Making of a Second Language Poetry. The poems narrate my personal history, exploring the religious-cultural convergence of being a mother as well as a daughter and investigating the different aspects of being a student mother in learning a language and pursuing a degree in a study abroad setting. 10 of the 70 pieces are self-translated poems signifying the creativity in the translational process of “self” while handling the meaning both in my first and second language.