By Jonathan Burger, Craven Arts Council & Gallery, Inc.
Where are you from and how did you end up in eastern North Carolina?
I’m a Miami native, born and raised around a big family. I attended university there and built my career in South Florida. My husband, Jenko, and I discovered New Bern during our search for a sailboat. What started out as a simple transaction turned into something unexpected. As we spent time in New Bern fitting the boat to sail down south, we became enchanted by the town and the friendships we made. This course of events was pure serendipity and just like that we decided to change our plans: we uprooted our life in Miami and moved up to the boat instead. Eventually we found a historic house, set down new roots and became a part of the community we fell in love with. New Bern has been our new hometown for about six years now, and we’ve never looked back.
Do you have formal training as a writer and poet, or are you self-taught, or a combination of both?
I consider myself a scientist by trade, but a poet by heart. I earned degrees in Chemistry, with a specialty in analytical chemistry. I have had a long, successful career in pharmaceuticals R&D and medical device reagents manufacturing. Technical writing is a part of my scientific profession, but poetry is something that I’ve developed on my own over the years. I know the poetry basics from school, but most of my training comes from my keen interest in the genre and years of self-taught practice of the craft. When I was a young girl, I was enthralled by a poetry anthology my grandmother gifted me. The Sound of Poetry by Austin & Mills was one of my most cherished possessions, inspiring me to write poems of my own modeled after the book’s amusing short and simple rhymes. After all these years, I still have some of those hand-written poems!
Does your poetry have a central theme, or several themes?
I never know how inspiration will strike me, so in this sense I am open to infinite themes. I’ve been using poetry as a vehicle of understanding the world around me ever since I can remember. My background as an analytical chemist informs my poetry with objective observations of natural wonders – oceans, trees, birds. I have been practicing Yoga for over 20 years, and my study of Yoga philosophy allows a lucid perspective of the human experience — love, art, culture. There are many styles of poetry, but I consider myself a free verse poet. At the heart of my work is storytelling through wordsmithing — conveying observations in fragments linked by feeling. Every one of my poems has a unique energy – its own rhythm, structure and pattern. As a poet, I am compelled to find a way in language to transform that energy into something tangible.
What is your process like for writing poetry?
I like the tactile sensation of paper, the feel of my pen gliding across the page, the visual of my words taking shape. A lot of my poetry begins with a journal entry. I enjoy visiting a park, a bar, a café and taking in the scene. When I see something that piques my interest I write it down. I could make a list, write a sentence, or simply write down my unruly stream of thoughts. Sometimes I draw pictures. I’ve been known to write on a napkin or the back of a receipt if inspiration strikes me unexpectedly. Then, in the early morning hours when most of New Bern is still asleep, my scribbles and doodles are molded into words, verses and stanzas on my laptop. I start typing and allow the poem to reveal itself. Eventually theme, reason and structure come from my creative spark.
You’re releasing a book of poetry soon, Polyhymnia. What was that process like or getting a whole book together?
I’m proud and humbled to share that Polyhymnia, my debut collection of poems, is being released in October. The process began years ago in South Florida, where I shared original works of poetry as part of a thriving poetry community. Encouraged by the positive feedback that listeners shared with me, I found my voice and developed a rich body of work. I was granted a residency with the Writer’s Room at the Betsy Hotel, Miami Beach and it was at this residency that I found my theme and named my collection Polyhymnia. When I moved to New Bern, I wrote new poems inspired by the majesty of the Neuse River, the character of sailboats, and the wild wonders of Eastern North Carolina. I submitted my manuscript to the 2025 Finishing Line Press Open Chapbook Competition; Polyhymnia was named a semi-finalist and I was offered a publishing contract.
Is there another writer whose work you admire or inspires you?
My first favorite poet was Edgar Allen Poe. In grade school I had an assignment in English class to memorize a poem. I enjoyed so much the rhyme and meter of Poe, so I chose to memorize “Annabel Lee”. As a kid I did not understand the poem’s mature theme, but as an adult I relish Poe’s body of work. I picked up John Ashbery’s Self-Portrait in a Convex Mirror at a bookstore not knowing this poet. Fanning through the pages I stopped randomly to read and decide on my purchase. I was immediately taken by the depth behind the words. Ashbery’s Mirror remains a favorite on my bookshelf. Silvia Plath is a gem in the literary world. As a woman I relate to her life challenges and feminine perspective. Plath is exquisitely expressive in how she presents ordinary scenes such as in “A Winter Ship.”
What one poem, award, or publication are you particularly proud of, and why?
In 2024 I entered Craven Arts Council’s Ekphrastic Poetry Competition. With no formal poetry training, I was new to the concept of ekphrastic poetry. I was intrigued by the intricate and colorful Barn Owl With Moon Flowers, an original acrylic painting by Dorothy Mohler on exhibit at Bank of the Arts. Although my poem was not selected as a winner, I was thrilled to have my poem published in Ekphrasis 2024 along with many other beautiful poems by other entrants. My poem “The Barn Owl” was the last poem added to Polyhymnia and it hold a special place in my heart. It represents the culmination of my creative journey and my new chapter in life here in New Bern.
What advice do you have for other poets, or people wanting to get into poetry?
• Know that you are already a poet. You don’t need to receive awards and get published. If you enjoy writing and you write poems, you are a poet.
• Connect with fellow poets. When I moved to New Bern, the first thing I did was look for the poets to keep my creative spirit alive.
• Be bold in sharing your work. Share your poems in poetry groups and open mics. No one will know about your work if you don’t share it.
• Nurture your craft. Write consistently to develop your unique voice. Test the waters by entering competitions. Rejection will encourage you to be better; acceptance will give you confidence.
• Find Support. Residencies and Grants can help you across the finish line. I am so appreciative of the Artist Support Grant I received from the North Carolina Arts Council to help market and publicize Polyhmnia.
In one sentence, what is poetry to you?
Poetry is awareness, observation, and emotional connection to the profound beauty of the world within and without us.
I know you’re part of the Ekphrastic Poetry contest at Bank of the Arts, but where else can people find your work?
There were so many amazing works of art to choose from, and I was happy to enter the 2026 competition. I look forward to reading what my fellow poets submit, inspired by a rich juried exhibit. This summer I completed a Publicity Tour to promote Polyhymnia in Eastern North Carolina to share my poetry. People can look back on my journey and follow what’s coming next on my website www.sheenapowellpoet.com and social media @sheenapowellpoet. I am excited to launch the Polyhymnia Book Signing Tour at Next Chapter Books and Art, November 21st, and I will be a guest author at a Meet & Greet during LitFest 2026 at the Riverfront Convention Center, December 19th.