Poetry, Man

Darron Cambra, Education Director
for Youth Speaks Hawai’i
Photograph by Priscilla Ortiz

WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT DO YOU DO?

I am the Arts and Education Director for Youth Speaks Hawai’i and the program’s founder of the Substitute POET program. I have been an assistant coach for YSH’i’s travel squad for the last 5 years, including back to back champions of Brave New Voices in ‘08 and ‘09; we leave for LA Sunday to defend our title. I have also been running the writing workshops for YSH’i on Wednesdays at ARTS at Mark’s 4:30p-6p. for the last three years. 

I also perform around town for events, concerts, classrooms, and shows. Self-released a book and CD titled, TRUE Confessions of a Compulsive LIAR, in its third printing and have a second collection on its way.

HOMETOWN:
Townie.

“DAY JOB”:

Substitute Teacher, Youth Speaks Hawai’i Writing Workshop Director, POET Substitute founder.

“DREAM JOB”:

Teaching and performing poetry, so I’m already living it, trying to make a living doing it.

GUILTY PLEASURE:

La Coka Nostra, It is House of Pain with back up, picture A Lighter Shade of Wu-Tang. It’s raw, gritty hip hop.

LATEST BOOK/MOVIE/MUSIC YOU'VE CONSUMED:

I have loved flipping through artist chapbooks. Jocelyn just finished on I love; Jess Kroll has a great one too. Lyz set a new bar on chapbook aesthetics.

WHAT'S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU'VE BEEN GIVEN?

John S. Blake, amazing poet, I asked him the best thing I can do to improve my poetry. His response, paraphrased, “read others’ poetry, how are people going to care about your story if you don’t care about theirs.” I think that is part of the trade off of this universal language.

WHAT ROLE DOES THE ARTIST HAVE IN SOCIETY?

The artist can play many different roles. I choose to try to reflect society, and find some universal con¬nection through stories taken from this world. I believe another responsibility is to help keep the arts sustainable. Artist need to contribute to exposing people to their art, educating the next generation about arts so they don’t forget to find the beauty in life.

WHAT IS THE NUMBER ONE THING YOU HOPE PEOPLE GET OUT OF YOUR POETRY?

There are stories that need to be heard, voices that need to be listened to, it may be your own, and these stories are important. I hope that my poetry inspires others to make their own poetry and help speak up for the voiceless.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST RISK YOU'VE EVER TAKEN AND WAS IT WORTH IT?

There have been a number of times when I have been faced with a fork splitting being comfortable or secure or being honest to my art and trusting in pursuing a mix of education and poetry that has not been done sustainably, yet.

IF YOU FEEL A CREATIVE BLOCK, WHAT DO YOU DO TO JUMPSTART INSPIRATION?

I do a lot of workshops overcoming this very rampant problem in writing. One of the hardest things to look at is a blank page and be asked to fill it, so we (YSH’i) have techniques to get over that, using pre¬writing exercises to have a back-up verbal arsenal to fall back on written directly on the page you are to fill. Also, I have some sort of notebook, or other note-taking devise close to me at all times, to jot down ideas I can expand on later.

GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT YET:

Every time I see a student I work with succeed, no matter how small, there is a burst of pride that I cannot quantify so I fail to compare them in order. The first time a young poet shares in group for the first and second time, the first time they hit the stage, the wins as well, but to me, the journey is more important and inspiring to watch.

INSPIRATION(S):

I just wrote a father’s day poem. My father and his father are big inspirations and I’m getting old enough to accept that. The dedication to provide the chances to succeed, and the fact that we do it through education, both parents do really. I have had other heroes and role models let me down or fail to be in my corner, but one thing I can count on are my folks and I am very thankful for that.

FAVORITE OR MOST INSPIRATIONAL PLACE IN HAWAII?

I’ll give 3: 1. ARTS at Mark’s, it’s where YSH’i goes off on Wednesdays and 2nd Saturdays. 2. I wrote a lot on the rocks by blowhole, places you aren’t supposed to sit anymore. 3. Coffeeline, I used to write there in high school, before school, some of my first poems started there.

ARTISTIC WEAPON(S) OF CHOICE?

They call me the Punissuer. Words are weapons. I have had many different masks, have had words hurt me and done the same. Been bullied, been the bully. Have had words hurt and heal. Words have always been a big part of my life. The advice that I hate the most is don’t lose your cool. I hate having to bottle up, to hold my tongue. But I do when needed. (Ironically I want to reword this)

SOMETHING YOU'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO, BUT HAVE YET TO:

Skydive, looking for someone who is going to strap to the back of a 6’7” 250lbs sack of poemtatoes.

DETAILS OR NOTES REGARDING ANY OF YOUR FEATURED WORKS:

Plantation Generation: I wrote this for Father’s Day, a poem I’ve been wanting to do for a while. There are few people that I have looked up to in my life, not many examples for what I’ve wanted to do, but being a good man, that example has stayed constant. Featured works: HB 444what?!? The new civil war (featured below).

I think that this was one of the most important poems for me to write. As a poet, part of my job is to speak up for people. The rights the gay community is fighting for are similar to rights others have had to fight for at some point in time. Like all civil movements, the fight needs to be picked up by others. If only that group fights alone the oppressive power can keep them controlled. It makes me sick that there are groups of faithful people who preach hate and want to deny rights based on books meant to aid spiritual journeys.

Darron Cambra, Education Director for
Youth Speaks Hawai’i
Photograph by Priscilla Ortiz

ARTISTS/POETS/MUSICIANS YOU ADMIRE:

The local poets that inspired me the most have both moved, Selah and Melvin. Lyz, Tui, Travis and I have worked very closely at keeping YSH’i going and I have a lot of respect for them. Our up and coming mentors in training keep me reminded of what a great opportunity I have. YSH’i Poets (past and present) are some of the top caliber in the nation. Poets in the bigger circle, Bridget Grey (who is here now) Mighty Mike McGee, Danny Sherrard, Jack McCarthy, John S. Blake, Rob¬bie Q, Andrera Gibson, Cole Rodrigez, Buddy Wakefield, Tony Jackson, Ed Mabrey, Iyeoka.

SUGGESTIONS FOR FELLOW ARTISTS:

This is not an easy path. you do it for the love of it. be thankful for early success but be grateful for early obstacles and disappoint¬ments it will prepare you for hurdles closer to the finish line.

A FEW WORDS THAT SUM UP YOUR PHILOSOPHY ON LIFE:

What you learn isn’t the most important thing, it is that you learn how to learn. If you have something you love, learn ways to allow you to follow your dreams. No one is going to give you a perfect life with a nice bow, you got to open doors for you.

 

So God's Followers,

His faith warriors

fighting for his message of love

and self right-rich-ness I, mean righteousness;

They were victorious once again

making sin and sacrament

part of this state's commandments

And congregates and constituents

Shoved their public servants back into closets.

HB 444

the bill, created and tried

came to be legitimately,

it was born like that.

supreme court had deemed it a necessity

Civil unions were meant to be

but it is a long journey.

I watch the virtuous, in their Klan colored garb

and i pray that there are more Gods than just this one

because i want no part in this faith

The same that would stone Mary after being raped

I see no God in this kind of hate

where 2 men in loved are scorned

but a woman can walk down the aisle in unearned white

With an unspoken son sitting shotgun

it will have thew groom's smile

but the best man's eyes,

So who's screwing who?

and this mob, with kettle black tongues spitting white lies

to match the white t-shirts, covering pot bellies

Guarding god-given rights with gluttony

The shadows and stones cast made lawmakers

afraid to speak...like Calvin forgot his last name.

like they all forgot to Say anything...

so Democrats, liberals, this blue state

Home of "hope and change."

Auwe, let it whither and die away

like a tear drenched engagement ring, rusted but never worn

and this reminds me of slavery, suffrage, segregation, reproductive rights

the separation of church and state

from laws and debate

was set upon this country

by god fearing slave owners.

because they had seen the power abused

by older countries

like England... and Rome... and Egypt.

and they just wanted to be different

Because man has a tendency

to make God in man's image

and not the other way around.

Would it disgust you to see two Gods kiss?

Marriage as a legal binding contract

has nothing to do with your church

or her temple, or his prayerbook.

Marriage is a borrowed idea, like baptism.

One of my favorite teachers, gay.

brought his friend to the games

taught us about the world but couldn't tell us about him self

but history has taught me at one time

Protestants and Catholics couldn't marry

that men hung from trees for kissing a person of another shade

Changing tradition is how history's made

a high school friend

who's so uncomfortable with being himself that

he now remains a mystery

in the shadows of his own closet,

Built with walls of shame by careless names

and i cant help but think, at one time i was putting

nails in his coffin,

circled with cigarettes

coughing coolness and future regret

My first girlfriend, who i had so much in common with,

including similar taste in women

the only ex-girlfriend truly wants to live happily, without me,

because i could never be the one that could complete her

while her perfect partner shares matching tear streaks and missing ring lines

To the student in my class, the last one i let down by saying nothing

while slingshots fracture glass houses

homophobic phrases have no place in education

it teaches young minds to feel shame

for what their hearts tell them.

But Gay rights are making strides

They're lifting the veil "On don't ask, Don't tell.

So men and women can be themselves while

Losing their lives fighting for rights

they won't be allowed.

Republicans get found time and time again

in compromising positions with men

and a wife's cancer cant even keep a

donkey in a terminal marriage.

and the state thinks that couples

with even more in common than perfect opposites

can't live up to

the straight's shining example of sanctity

And less than 50% accuracy of "... 'til death do us part."