Today's Feature: Carlin Pierce

National Poetry Month Celebration

Bio:  Carlin Pierce, an aspiring professional inspirator, lives in the quaint town of Herndon, Virginia with her family and friends.  Painting, writing, and just crafting take up much of her time as does reading and school.  Time is a scarcity in her life, as she balances her many and diverse interests. 

Past:  Growing, writing, love
Making friends and memories
Laughing, crying, time

Present:  Learning, writing, live
School, persevering, helping
Smiling, frowning, time

Future:  Striking, trying, now
Writing and changing the world,
One poem at a time

Uncertainty is the foundation of inspiration, and hope is the cement of the future.  One of Carlin’s favorite sayings is:  “Live freely, love much, laugh often.”  And to add her own spark to that “Change what you can, make known what you can and never, ever give up.”

Hope

‘Twas light as a feather blown
Or a dandelion seed floating on a breeze
But as heavy as snow that falls
Like leaves falling from the top of autumnal trees
It feels divine and has a memory unknown
The invisible emotion like a lovely lift of love
Slides through the wall of criticism to reach your inner core
Takes its liberties with directions from above
A life not seen in years, but in light of what you become
A time not counted in numbers, but in the essence of what you do
A field of passing opportunities time means nothing, if you don’t use it
Many, many, lessons, please, please, take them with you

 

The interview

Where do you draw your inspiration from to write poetry? 
I literally get my inspiration from everything. I feel that the job of a poet is to take the commonly acknowledged "uninteresting" as well as the beautiful, special, and wonderful and turn it into something inspiring. Thus, I feel that everything from stop signs to history, to nature, to emotions, to ketchup, to a look from a stranger inspires me.


What advice do you have for someone that is threatened by poetry? 
Besides the generic "don't be?" I would tell them that poetry is a perspective of one person. It's nothing greater than verbalized impressions, something for a person to agree with, disagree with, and add to. It shouldn't be threatening, it should be inviting. Poetry allows for expression rather than oppression, so if someone could look at it as an escape rather than the threat, it is the most wonderful release. I wrote a poem about it actually: Poetry Poetry is the open window When the door is closed and locked Poetry is the paint brush That you use to color life Poetry is the building block On which to create a thought Poetry is inspiring Whether you know it or not.


What is an interesting fact about you?  
I am 17. I speak fluent french. I love to garden. I have a chicken. I adore making my own food--yogurt, bread, dinner, and of course growing my own vegetables. I love hats. My favorite place to read is up high.


Where are you from / Where do you live? 
I was born in Winston Salem, North Carolina on a farm, but moved to Herndon, Virginia when I was young. That is where I currently reside. As for where I'm from... Well, that's a bit more complicated. 


Who is your favorite poet? 
Life. Although sometimes she lacks verbalization. I also enjoy Robert Frost, Kwame Alexander, and Deanna Nikaido.