Why Poetry?
I’ve just always been drawn to it. I’ve been writing poems ever since I was a little kid. It’s a very direct outlet. It is this concise piece of writing and form of expression that says so much within such a small stanza, and that really appeals to me.
How did Poem Store come about?
The whole concept kind of came from my friend Zachary Houston who is a really talented poet. I met Zachary at some point on my travels in Oakland, CA. He was typing poems for people on the street for a long time at random festivals and farmer’s markets. He asked me if I had a typewriter and wanted to join him. I had just purchased a typewriter at the Rose Bowl here in Pasadena, so I went with him and it was incredible. The first poem I ever wrote for someone was with Zachery at a street festival in Oakland. I sat down with him with our typewriters back to back and we typed poems for people for a couple hours, and it was such a good experience. I knew then that’s what I was going to do. I was going to do this for people.
Is Poem Store the only job you have?
Yea, it’s been my only job for almost six years. I’ve just started doing it in LA about a year ago. I get hired for private parties, weddings, gallery openings, and museum events. Honestly, weddings are the most fun thing to get hired for because everyone is celebrating and in a good mood, and people get poems about really beautiful sweet things.
The typewriter that you use now, is that the same one you got from the Rose Bowl?
No, very early on I got another typewriter given to me in exchange for writing poems for a friend of mine every day for two months so he could make a book out of it. I went to pick up a copy of the book and he had this beautiful typewriter that he gave to me.
Do you remember the first wedding you did and what was it like?
The first wedding I did was for my friend in Topanga Canyon. People were hovered around me. Once I brought the typewriter out I was stuck there right across from people for hours. It was actually really fun.
How many weddings have you done so far?
About ten weddings.
How much do you usually charge and how long are you there for?
I usually charge $150 an hour, and I normally don’t like to type for over 4 hrs straight.
What advice would you give to couples on what to do and what not to do when dealing with you?
Make sure that they announce when I’m there and what I’m doing. One time I worked a wedding in which inside everyone’s place setting was a piece of paper already stamped for them to get a poem. It’s incentive. I recommend things like that, making sure people know what I’m doing and that they could come get a poem. And then what not to do is something like seat me in a weird place where I’m not accessible. Don’t seat me by loud music, and where I'm sitting needs to be well lit.
What is a recurring theme or topic?
When people ask me for poems about their deceased spouse. It’s the most intense thing, and that’s when they make me cry.
What have you learnt in the time period that you’ve been doing this?
That it is exhausting. It’s the most tiring thing I’ve ever done in my life. I’ve also learnt different ways to communicate with people, to be polite when they’re being rude to me.
How can people come see you in action?
At the Hollywood farmer’s market on Sundays. It’s accessible, and people can come get a feel for my whole set up. People do that a lot. It says on my website if I’m going to be there or not, and for how long.
Do you have any favorite poets both dead or alive?
Wendell Berry is my favorite poet. He’s alive. Everything that he has ever written is exactly what I think and feel. And I think that when someone really relates to writing, whether it is a book or a poem or a poet, it is because they are showing something about themselves or something that they are inspired by. Something that they care about, something that is familiar, something that’s touching a deep place in them. And that’s why I love him. It kind of makes me think that’s also why people love what I do because when I’m writing something, it’s just for them.
What’s your favorite poem?
My favorite poem is an Elizabeth Bishop poem. It’s called “In The waiting Room.” I had never read anything like that before. When I was younger and when I was looking at schools to go to, one of the professors in one of the classes that I was standing in on read that poem, and it changed my life. I decided to go to that school because of that moment.
Any advice for anyone trying to be a poet or getting into poetry?
Just read a lot. Read, read, read, and kind of pick up all these different things that language has done throughout time and get inspired by that.
What inspires you?
The feeling that I am truly affecting people, and offering something up to them. That is what's inspiring about this whole thing. I can see the results. It’s very obvious that it really works and that people are really touched and affected by it.
I’ve noticed on your website and on your cards it says “yes,” what does that mean?
It’s just like a resounding positive that I try to say ‘yes’ to almost everything.
