1. When did you first start writing poetry, and what drew you to it?

I started writing poetry back in second year high school. It started during our English class which had topics on poetry. Shortly thereafter, I found myself writing poems as a personal project. I even had a notebook that I made into a makeshift book so that it felt like a real one! That notebook is now lost in time, but it would be great if I could find it again.

2. Was there a particular poem or poet that first made you fall in love with poetry?

Let’s go back to my second year in high school again. Our English teacher had us memorize a poem in our literature book, and present it in front of the class. I chose “Ode on a Grecian Urn” by John Keats. During the process of memorizing that poem, I had come to love the imagery and the depth of emotions it had. It was the poem that made me like poetry and until now, I still remember the first few lines of that poem.

3. How do you decide when a poem feels “finished”?

I trust my gut feel on this one. Just like writing a novel, I will know if there are more scenes to tell or I have written all that I can. However, the pattern that I have noticed with myself when writing poetry is that I usually write in three stanzas, and maybe it’s subconscious but I don’t really have a particular reason why. 🙂

4. How personal is your poetry — do you see it as a form of self-expression or storytelling?

This is a great question! I actually just see poetry as self-expression and the poems I write are deeply personal. I never thought I could use poetry or write a poetry book in the form of storytelling. But because of this question, I suddenly have this realization that I actually can, and some ideas are now forming inside my head. 😀

5. Which poets or artists have influenced your voice or style the most?

For international poets, it would be Lang Leav. I find her poems truly expressive of emotions. She can weave words that go beyond their literal meaning. She is my influence in writing lyrical free verses poems.

For local poets, it would be Kristine Gajitos. She may not know it, but her advice on writing poems touched my heart. I found my poetic voice or style through her. She said something in the lines of: “When you write poetry, just write it. No need to overthink it. It doesn’t have to rhyme, it doesn’t need to be complicated.”

6. How would you describe your poetic voice to someone who’s never read your work?

Emotions and thoughts expressed in simple words. I think that is how I would describe my work to readers.

7. What do you hope readers will experience or take away from your poems?

This PIAC 2nd Poetry Collaboration really had me reflect on my dreams, wishes, and even failures. I was able to explore both the positive and negative emotions with them. With this and through the poems that I have written in this Collab, I hope my readers will also see the extraordinary in the simple things in life that bring them joy, and to realize how poetry is an art that brings all these connections together.