Tell me a bit about how you got into poetry.

listened to the muses
communed with the four winds
downloaded insta
opened my notes app
voila.

That’s… beautiful. Do you feel inspired by anything in particular?

i see the stars
they sing to me.
i see the sun
he yells at me.
i see
the moon
she says to me

it’s ok
if you use chatgpt sometimes
just to
bounce ideas off.

So you do use generative AI in your writing?

i tried ai
but an ai for an i
leaves me

feeling like the rhyme scheme was a little off and there weren’t enough metaphors about my mom.

Then rhyming is important to you?

a wise man once said
history may not repeat
but it does rhyme

with “blistery” i guess.
gross.

Your fans say you have an impressive command of poetic devices.

i suppose i am grateful
for the metaphor.

the metaphor is like the simile of wait no
the metaphor is the simile of like
the metaphor is a flower from which all the
i like the metaphor.

Do you write like this all the time?

in day job
i write tapas menus
like this:

aperitivos

Have you ever considered capitalization?

NO. i mean

You recently split ties with your previous publishing house. Can you elaborate on why?

my editor was
a dry sponge
and i was
a glass of water

but
he
never learned how to soak it up.

Rumor has it that the disagreement had to do with your royalties…

ah

a slice of the pie

u might think
my favorite pie
is apple
maybe pumpkin
or lemon meringue

but its not

my favorite pie?
humble.

We’re speaking out loud. How are you pronouncing the word “I” in lowercase every time?

small mouth
big heart
little ol me

How do you respond to your critics?

i dont talk to my mom anymore

So your family is not supportive of your career?

very cruel
they never buy my books
they only pay for my rent and food and clothes and steam account

People like you have to stay tapped into the latest in arts and culture. What’s been your favorite find from this year so far?

much like a fisherman
tired of the net
im experimenting with reels

instagram reels

now im the catch of the day.

Your collection “not so dear diary” is out this March. What is exciting to you about this new chapter?

finally opening up
about my struggles
being an artist
without facing adversity

cart before the horse
art before remorse
chickens before they hatch
wildfire only needs one match

What?

(Poet did not elaborate, but nodded and snapped for several minutes.)