Joyelle McSweeney Discusses Creative Process Behind Poem 'My Fortune' in Paris Review Series
Poet Joyelle McSweeney contributed to The Paris Review's 'Making of a Poem' series, discussing her work 'My Fortune' featured in the Spring 2026 issue. She explained the poem originated during a period of personal loss and global uncertainty, drawing inspiration from historical artifacts, auction imagery, and classical mythology. McSweeney described formal challenges in crafting the poem's rapid, draining quality and maintaining emotional rawness. The piece reflects on themes of fortune, transformation, and grief through layered references.
Key facts
- Joyelle McSweeney's poem 'My Fortune' appears in The Paris Review Spring 2026 issue
- The poem was discussed in The Paris Review's 'Making of a Poem' series in March 2026
- McSweeney drew inspiration from Egyptian grave goods, silver service auctions, and Ovid's Metamorphoses
- Formal challenges included creating rapid movement and maintaining unguarded repetition
- The poem addresses personal loss and transformation through mythological and historical imagery
Entities
Artists
- Joyelle McSweeney
- Fritz Geller-Grimm
Institutions
- The Paris Review
- University of Notre Dame
- Frick Gallery
- Sotheby's
- Christie's
Locations
- New York