For our June 2020 issue, we featured a Q&A with Pittsburgh’s Poetess, Rachel Ann Bovier.
The interview is one of the most popular features we’ve done. People are still reading and enjoying her answers to our questions.
This month we have a real treat for you because Rachel is back and more fabulous than ever!
Rachel Ann Bovier entered the world as Billie Nardozzi. Billie became a successful musician and poet in the Pittsburgh area, worked for the state liquor store system, married, divorced, and built a life before transitioning into Rachel Ann to start her new life.
Legally changing her name was a huge step, but one she has never regretted.
For over a decade she paid to place her poems with her phone number in The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette classified section to be accessible for her fans. From June 2017 to November 2019, in conjunction with Lamar Advertising, Rachel paid for a monthly billboard at the corner of Bigelow Boulevard and Herron Avenue in the Polish Hill district of Pittsburgh.
Each month, the billboards featured a smiling Bovier identified as “Pittsburgh’s Poetess” with a positive message such as “Put the freeze on hate and the heat on love” or “May your troubles be few and your triumphs be many.” Once again, she included her phone number in case anyone seeing her message needed to talk. Pittsburghers responded well to Rachel’s messages encouraging people to find themselves by being themselves, and she has become a local legend.
When the billboards stopped, Bovier received phone calls from concerned fans. As a result, BOOM Creative stepped in to sponsor a special Christmas holiday board featuring Rachel Ann as a kick-off for their “Just Do You” campaign.
On January 6, 2025, Rachel’s new billboard will feature her image and the message, “Hello my LGBT friends. We ain’t going back!”
I caught up with Rachel Ann by phone this month and she graciously agreed to take part in another Q&A. We are pleased to present Pittsburgh’s Poetess, Rachel Ann Bovier, in her own words.
You are a songwriter and poet. What’s the difference between writing a song versus writing a poem? Which do you enjoy more?
Writing a song proved to be more difficult for me, because it includes in its process the strumming of a guitar, or the playing of a piano. It distracts me from the words.
Whereas, just writing a poem is strictly writing words with 100% concentration on those words.
You were in a band off and on for forty years performing in the Pittsburgh area. Now, when you are giving interviews or reciting your poems in public, it’s just you up there. Do you miss being part of a band? How exposed do you feel as a solo performer?
I do miss performing with a band as it provides more music, and of course the camaraderie with the other musicians....But in my solo work as a Poet...I have found it more gratifying...as the poetry is number one to me, and my music has sort of taken a back seat...so to speak.
You favorite poets are William Shakespeare and Robert Frost. What do you like about their poems? How have these poets affected your work?
I love "Shakespeare" because of his superior intelligence.....I love "Frost" because I myself...as in many ways....Have....."Taken That Road Less Traveled"...And it has surely made all the difference !!!.
Who are some of your favorite songwriters? Why?
My favorite songwriters are.......... "Lennon & McCartney".........And.......... "Burt Bacharach"...........
And Why???...Because I admire how they just cranked out hit after hit......."Pure Genius"
Do you prefer a quiet environment free from distractions when you write, or do you listen to music? If you write to music, which artists/bands are playing?
Mostly a very heartfelt, sentimental song played low in the background as I'm writing.
And I play that song as many times as needed until I'm done writing the poem...Sometimes 20 or 30 times.
The LGBT community has expanded to include LGBTQIA+ individuals as many factions of our society have become less welcoming or inclusive. You mentioned in a poem what the letters LGBT have come to mean to you personally. Can you share this with us today?
The Letters L-G-B-T, I've made up my own words pertaining to those letters.
( L )-oving................( G )-iving................( B )-rave..........( T )-rue
The message on your new billboard speaks volumes. How worried are you about the next four years given the rise of conservatism in the three branches of the federal government?
I am not worried at all... As I've stated before... We Ain't Going Back"...
Just like anything in history… that people have fought for their human rights.
For no one... ( No matter how powerful )... Shall ever defeat what has proved to be... "Harmless...
But those (so-called) powerful leaders... should be put on trial for being... "Harmful"…
You have a diverse fan base which includes the LGBTQIA+ community and straight cisgender men and women. Why do you and your work appeal to so many people?
(First & Foremost)... I thank you for that very nice compliment... Why the appeal to so many???
Because I think people can read through the lines when someone is being honest and real... and that I sure hope to convey.
You’ve been writing poems, framing, and sending them to local bars and restaurants in the Pittsburgh area, and recently you’ve begun to expand your outreach to other states. How is that going so far? What inspired this undertaking?
L.O.L.!!!... Yes, I've expanded to other states. I've mailed my poems (to name a few) ... California... Mississippi... Massachusetts... Kentucky... Alabama... Arkansas.
Not much response... but a couple did mail me a gift card!!!... But so funny... "Oh sure, I will fly to California or Alabama for a $20.00 lunch card and spend $300.00 plane fair to get there!!!... LOL... But the nice thing about it is when they tell me they've hung the poem on their wall !!!....And that is worth more than any amount of money.................The Inspiration???... Me wanting to spread the goodness!!!
Many poets are inspired to write a series of poems about a single subject or with a certain theme. You’ve been experimenting with word play. Can you tell us a little about that?
Yes;...I always like to offer different styles of writing....I don't like to be pigeon-holed into one style....
For instance, I take a subject like... "Football"... or a... "Poker Game"... Using the terms of those particular subjects and word playing on it.
((( Football )))
He had made a ((( Pass ))) at her
So she ((( Kicked ))) him with all her might
She then ((( Tackled ))) him to the ground
And the ((( Game ))) of love he had lost that night
((( Poker )))
I'll give it to you ((( Straight )))
I'm tired of ((( Dealing ))) with you
And so I'm ((( Cashing In My Chips )))
And ((( Bidding ))) you adieu
Yes you've always been my ((( Queen )))
But this ((( King ))) has had enough
But I tell you with all my ((( Heart )))
You were a ((( Diamond ))) in the rough
If you taught a poetry writing course, what would be your rules for teaching, writing and reciting?
1... Short and to the point
2... Non-fiction usually sells the best
3... Start with a joke to loosen up the crowd.
4... Dress fancy
5... Always try to include the audience in the show.
6... Always thank them for attending
7... If possible, bring treats for them.
We discussed how “word choice” can strengthen or water down the message of a sentence or an entire poem. What ruins a poem for you?
I've always thought that what ruins a poem is any kind of cussing or putting something or somebody down.
Many of us have discarded the hard copies of our giant unabridged dictionaries in favor of our smart phones, Alexa, or Siri. Why do you prefer to physically look up words in the dictionary when you write?
I prefer a dictionary because it doesn't talk back!!!... LOL
The last time we spoke you were still working on your first book of poems. Do you have a title in mind?
My first book I've always said would be a hard back cover...with pink wrapping and with black letters On the front that read as follows:
"Poems & One Liners” by Rachel Ann Bovier
Many of your poems are humorous or satirical. How does the phrase, “Take Me Seriously, but not too seriously,” relate to your work?
They relate in a way that says don't look at anything and immediately pass judgement.
Take it easy and lightly.
If someone made a movie of your life, who would you want to play you? Why?
Whoa !!!.......Interesting Question........I would venture to say a woman to play the part of me.....Why???...........Because Women are very heartfelt and very sincere, and again as stated earlier, I hope I put that across in my writings.
How can our readers find your work?
In the Pittsburgh Post Gazette......On the Internet.......In the Restaurants & Bars.........On Billboards..........And sometimes on the Radio.
What’s next for Rachel Ann Bovier?
What's next for me???.....Whatever crazy and zany thought comes to my mind!!!
A couple more glasses of red wine and................ Who knows!!!....LOL