This week, we offer our congratulations to Alex J.J for his beautiful piece Random Note 1. On his profile Alex says of himself:
Born in Middletown, NY. Korean American. Aspiring poet and writer. 19yr old boy who just wants to run off somewhere far away and grow bored for a long time.

Here are his answers to our Q&A.

 

How long have you been writing and what initially got you into writing poetry?
Not that long, as in I've always been writing but I've just gotten more into it as the years have gone by.  My mom got me into writing in a way.

 

Have you ever performed your poetry at open-mic nights? If not would you like to?
I've performed before at open mics. It's a lot of fun!

 

Who is your favourite poet or poem?
I think I might have answered this before, but Ocean Vuong has been a major source of inspiration to me.

 

Who or what is your biggest influence when writing?
Questions. When I'm alone, one question leads to another and that greatly influences my writing.

 

Which four persons, living or dead, would you like to share your last meal with?
My brother, mother, father and maybe my dog (honestly more of a person than some). On one condition though, that they don't know it's my last meal.

 

Random Note1
by Alex J.J

Why are all my words dressed like immigrants?
I ask the twelve year old girl trapped in a photograph.
Plaid red pants. Two sizes too small for her.
Seagulls fleeing from a burnt sienna sky.
Grandpa’s hat drooped over her slanted eyes.
Where are you?
I ask the older woman missing from all the other photographs.
The question takes refuge and
I stand in my mother’s bathroom doorway.
She smiles in the mirror at me, brushing her teeth.
soft morning chirp
from the open window,
white curtains
sway like a sundress and
faucet water rushes - spitting sound.
what is it? She asks.
Nothing.