Anthropophobia

Anthropophobia includes all of the poetry included in 3 previously released chapbooks Harmony (2016), Andromeda (2017), and Meanwhile on Earth (2017).

Harmony: This word replayed on a figurative loop in my head after I released my second book Letters to the Universe. I had noticed a trend in my writing. I would get really frustrated, irritated, and overwhelmed at the beginning of starting the first 2 books. I would then feel this need to spill my frustrations onto...
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Anthropophobia includes all of the poetry included in 3 previously released chapbooks Harmony (2016), Andromeda (2017), and Meanwhile on Earth (2017).

Harmony: This word replayed on a figurative loop in my head after I released my second book Letters to the Universe. I had noticed a trend in my writing. I would get really frustrated, irritated, and overwhelmed at the beginning of starting the first 2 books. I would then feel this need to spill my frustrations onto paper. After the first 10 to 20 poems I would start to feel a little better. Still anxious, still overwhelmed, but somehow a little better than before. Then for the final 100+ pages of the writing process I could somewhat enjoy it without feeling like I was caught somewhere between the tidal wave and its undertow. Stuck in the foam with just enough air to choke. I was now treading water, but damn, I wanted to float.

Why was one of my favorite things causing me so much stress? Was this a microcosm of my life? Did life need to be stressful? Does a job need to be difficult and boring? Does a relationship need to be dramatic and psychologically devastating? I had all of these questions and the answer seemed pretty plain to see. No. Could I teach myself how to separate myself and my life from the status quo? Life is supposed to be filled with peace, grace, joy, fun, contentment, and ease. I needed to find my Harmony. So I wrote until it made sense to me.

Andromeda: The fourth poetry book that I wrote was named Andromeda. You've probably heard the word Andromeda if you are into Astronomy or Greek Mythology. So it won't be a surprise when I tell you that this book was inspired by both. I have always had a passion for digging into the roots and meanings of why things are the way that they are. How did some of the earliest forms of civilization see stories in stars? Or were the stars telling the stories? I guess we'll never really know but I was hell-bent on trying my best to find out. I can promise you this, I do not have a magical cure for depression, however I will promise you that if you go out and look at the stars you'll be amazed again and again and again. Without fail you will have to ruminate that your life IS worth living after-all. If you feel like you can't see the miracle that is your life, go outside and look up tonight. If Andromeda was saved, you are going to be alright.

Meanwhile On Earth: From my books 'Letters to the Universe' up until 'Andromeda' I was doing a lot of soul-searching. I was trying to find out who I was. I was trying to make any sense that I could out of the things I had went through in my 20's. I finally knew in my head that I wanted to live, I just didn't physically feel that way. My earlier writing was a product of my seclusion and meditation. Although it was more positive than my schizoaffective and panic-driven-manifesto days, it was still very ungrounded. Yes, I was aware and hopeful, however I was not very present and still felt like I was watching my days pass away from afar. I was the third-person omniscient narrator of my story, and it was boring always knowing what was going to happen. With 'Meanwhile On Earth' I decided to take a break from the spiritual and visit this wonderful place called Earth. It was my attempt at coming back to myself. And when I got back I was very surprised that the talk of the town (more the talk of the internet) was sexism, racism, lies, and fear. Even the people that claimed they were there to serve, were really just serving up fear. Damn, I thought I'd be coming back to a place of peace, love, and understanding? It was with 'Meanwhile On Earth' that I realized why so many people like myself ran away to a journal to get lost deep into the mind. It felt a little safer in there. "Meanwhile on Earth, I don't want to hear another word."