Today's Feature: Gowri K.

4/23/2013

National Poetry Month Celebration

Photographer Les Talusan 2013

Bio: Gowri K. is a Sri Lankan Tamil American poet and lawyer. Her advocacy has addressed animal welfare, the environment, and the rights of prisoners and the criminally accused. She has co-authored two peer-reviewed scientific journal articles and her poetry has been published in Beltway Poetry Quarterly, Bourgeon, and Lantern Review. Gowri was a member of the 2010 DC Southern Fried Slam team and has performed at Lincoln Center Out of Doors, the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage, and the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. She hosts open mics at Busboys and Poets and BloomBars, where she serves as poetry coordinator. Gowri is a co-founder and communications consultant with Making It Slam and a poetry editor with Jaggery: A DesiLit Arts and Literature Journal. She tweets on-the-spot haiku @gowricurry.

Video Performance

Poem (previously published in Bourgeon)--
http://bourgeononline.com/2010/07/poem-the-distance-from-here-to-there-by-gowri-koneswaran/

The Interview

What is an interesting fact about you?
I represented the state of Connecticut in the national spelling bee when I was in eighth grade. I still remember the word that I lost on... "introuvable."

Where are you from / Where do you live?
I was born and raised in Connecticut and have been calling DC home for the past 8 years.

Who is your favorite poet?
I don't have a favorite poet or poem but, in honor of all the great poetry that exists, I like to periodically memorize another poet's poem and share it at open mics. One of my recent favorites in that regard is "Family Jewels" by DC poet Essex Hemphill.

Contact @gowricurry

34 Comments

molly chambers

4/24/2013 07:12:09 am

I did not know all that about you Gowri. I am very impressed. Enjoy the spring.. Molly

Neville Adams link

4/24/2013 12:56:01 pm

Her work has helped to forge the ever expanding poetry scene...eloquence and style worthy of literary merit.

Jose

4/28/2013 06:03:12 am

I am very impressed by her work as both a poet and a lawyer. Her piece was both very enjoyable and haunting.

Leo

4/28/2013 09:21:55 am

Very interesting ill like to hear more

Maxwell

4/29/2013 06:09:25 am

Expressing yourself in variety of ways seems to be your forte! Lovely work!

Edwin

4/29/2013 08:48:19 am

It must be awesome to be a lawyer and a poet at the same time.

Hyon

4/29/2013 09:07:58 am

I love the imagery your poem created.

Sagen

4/29/2013 10:45:53 am

Like nothing I've heard before.

Paola

4/29/2013 11:41:29 am

I found your poetry very honest and very creative. I love the way you express your words and how it can relate in reality. I find it very inspirational because I am very well into the idea of how it relates to our society and environment. You grab the audiences attention like the way you want it to be and you feel very open to the world and how you would lead your words like a tale that I do not mind it to be repeated. I love your work, good job and keep it up! And also, it doesn't matter what but words are very impacting and it was a way to understand what you want to say and how you want to express with your voice and body language. So I find your poems entertaining, and very personal.

Blanca

4/29/2013 01:30:07 pm

A lawyer and a poet? That's an interesting combination... how did you reach it? And you are very talented :)

Ganiu

4/30/2013 06:56:08 am

Wow a lawyer and a post, inspirational! I love your poetry because it speaks volumes because it's as if you are talking and speaking your mind as if to someone you already know which is something i love.

Kayla W.

4/30/2013 11:57:20 am

Being a lawyer and a poet is an inspiration to me because it shows that you can have a professional job, and still do what you love.

Jasmine BW

5/1/2013 10:01:39 am

I really admire the fact that you hold two different jobs. As a young woman I am proud to see that you can have a formal career as well as a career that strongly motivates you.

Lovely Ruth R.

5/1/2013 11:00:34 am

She is more of a person that commits her life to others through advocating animal welfare, well-being of our environments, and the rights of prisoners and criminally accused. I would call her a philantrophist to the heart because she spends her time for the betterment of others.

Felecia Armstrong

5/1/2013 11:51:36 pm

Very intriguing...Poet and Lawyer talent beyond compare.

Rob link

5/2/2013 12:02:59 am

very interesting...

Julie Wilson link

5/2/2013 12:42:08 am

Being a English major, one of my favorite lesson plans is the poetry that we cover. You need poetry in your life.

Loretta

5/2/2013 12:56:04 am

It's a sign of great intelligence and education to be able to express one self in poetry.

Heather Petersen

5/2/2013 01:03:20 am

I love the interview and getting to know the poets!

shelley link

5/2/2013 03:09:58 am

love your purpose

Jason Valasek link

5/2/2013 05:34:28 am

Now I want to hear a lawyer inside the courtroom defending her client with her poetic lines of defense.

Tina link

5/2/2013 06:53:02 am

How refreshing! A lawyer who is a poet! This is beautiful.

Kylie Holliday

5/2/2013 07:04:34 am

I love your style. You write beautifully.

Meli link

5/2/2013 07:17:24 am

Very talented young woman who supports some great causes.

Joanna L

5/2/2013 07:31:15 am

Great video. Does Gowri have a website?

Fred link

5/2/2013 08:09:46 am

Believes in what she does...

Davonte S.

5/2/2013 09:07:20 am

From her picture posted, I honestly didn't believe that she would have such powerful an meaningful words.

Dov Shapira link

5/2/2013 09:13:00 am

'Her advocacy has addressed animal welfare, the environment, and the rights of prisoners and the criminally accused.'

I love that, great woman indeed

Veronica

5/2/2013 09:14:12 am

Beautiful and talented!

tyler link

5/2/2013 10:02:27 am

impressive!

Marian link

5/2/2013 10:34:34 am

I really enjoy your posting and the fact that you introduce us to some pretty amazing individuals!

Todd link

5/2/2013 01:56:48 pm

she almost lost me at lawyer... great poet, must be a great attorney too.

Cristian Alvarado

5/2/2013 02:27:14 pm

Being a lawyer and a poet that support good causes. Impressive women

Heather Walter link

5/2/2013 02:28:09 pm

Lovely work! Thank you for introducing me to a poet I was not familiar with!