What inspired you to start writing poetry?
I was brought to poetry by two separate catalysts, spaced a few months apart, when I was seventeen: first, watching the independent film, Slam, starring Saul Williams and Sonja Sohn, which revealed to me the power of not just writing but in the inhabiting of a poem. Shortly thereafter, the iconic poet, Martín Espada, came to my high school and read from his collection, Imagine the Angels of Bread. That pretty much solidified my love for poetry and the path I’ve been on ever since.
Can I book you for an event or artist residency at my college/university/independent school/company/law firm/organization/festival/conference?
Absolutely! Click here and let’s do it.
Have you authored any books?
Yes, my full-length poetry collection Fractures (University of Wisconsin Press, 2020), my chapbooks Hijito (Platypus Press, 2019) and Circling Fatherhood (Poetry International, 2025), and my memoir Man Up: Reimagining Modern Manhood (Penguin Random House, 2012) .
Do you have a signature poem?
I’ve written and recited hundreds of poems over the years, so I wouldn’t say I have a “signature” one, so to speak. That being said, here are a few of my better known pieces that are frequently taught, studied, re-shared on social media, or I get asked about in interviews:
“Father” — Featured on The On Being Project’s Poetry Unbound podcast and included in the Poetry Unbound: 50 Poems to Open Your World (W.W. Norton & Co., 2022) anthology.
“What Latino Looks Like” — Viral poem with more than 2.2 million views online, featured by We are mitú, which won Best Live Performance at the 2025 The Artists Forum Juried Arts Festival Awards.
“Awe & wonder—are you still there?” — Featured on Button Poetry, which won Best Enhanced Performance at the 2022 The Artists Forum Juried Arts Festival Awards.
“Gifted” — The poem inspired by and written for my little sister, Maya, which won Best Micro Film at the 2022 International Social Change Film Festival.
“Where are you really from?” — Viral poem with more than 2 million views that was featured on Button Poetry and We are mitú, which won Best Live Performance at the 2024 The Artists Forum Juried Arts Festival Awards.
“Elegy for Breath” — Winner of the 2019 Sandy Crimmins National Prize for Poetry, which was featured on the studio album, Volta.
“What is Genocide?” — Viral poem featured by Upworthy with more than 1.1 million views online, which was featured on HBO’s Def Poetry Jam and published in Rattle.
“Everything” — Poem featured on TV One’s Verses and Flow.
“What Happened” — Pushcart Prize-nominated poem that was published by BuzzFeed.
“Last Sundays at Bootleggers” — Poem published in the New England Review that was featured on American Public Media & The Poetry Foundation’s The Slowdown.
“All We Have” — Poem performed on Broadway with Savion Glover.
Can I book you for a virtual/remote engagement?
Of course! I can do (and have done) everything from a virtual hour-long performance or keynote to hosting a virtual open mic/coffeehouse/campfire conversation. I typically follow the sessions up with an interactive Q and A with audience members .
Do you ever deliver keynotes or commencement addresses?
I’ve given many keynotes over the years, as well as numerous commencement and graduation speeches at various institutions. I craft a tailored talk for each occasion based on the desired topic or theme.
Do you do workshops or professional development trainings?
Yes. I’ve done thousands of workshops and professional development seminars over the years on more topics than I could reasonably list. Some common topics/themes though have been:
Care & Community
Healthy Masculinity & Gender
Tools for Self-Care: Mental Wellness & Emotional Resilience
& many others…
I’ve also done extended engagements at numerous independent schools and colleges/universities. These residencies have run anywhere from a full day to five days, and included keynote addresses, all-school assemblies, class visits, writing workshops, panel discussions, faculty trainings, in-depth feedback on students’ work, and much more.
Click here for more info on booking me for a workshop or residency.
What is your favorite book?
There are so many books I adore, so this is a very tough question. But if I absolutely had to pick one, it’d actually be a tie between the two most astounding books I’ve ever read:
One Hundred Years of Solitude (Cien Años de Soledad) by Gabriel García Márquez & The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
If I send you some of my writing, will you read it and give me feedback?
Because of how overextended my life is, as a full-time parent of two and a touring artist and speaker, it frequently takes me a while to get to many of the messages that are sent my way. That being said, I am sure to read every single one, even if I’m not able to respond.
The fact that you recognize the importance of feedback from another person is a sign that you’re on the right track with your writing. My best advice: find a friend (or two) who shares your passion for writing and reading. Build a practice of reading and responding to each other’s work. Then, get out and share it when and where you can (local open mic, poetry slam, writing group, etc…). Those were the two most powerful foundations of my writing practice and growth: a supportive and challenging artistic community and the ability to get out and share my work in a public forum that offered me candid and constructive feedback.
I want to do what you do – write/perform/act/speak – what advice would you give me?
Surround yourself with a community of peers––more brilliant than you––who challenge you as much as they nurture you, artistically and otherwise. Then, get out there and share your work with the world every chance you get. Set goals and constantly recalibrate as you push further and grow. Ultimately though, the keys for a life like mine are the following: community, repetition, discipline, and read, read, read, write, revise, and, above all, learn constantly by doing.
I’d like to recite one of your poems for my forensics competition/speech & debate/open mic/talent show. Can you grant me permission to perform your work?
Absolutely! You have my blessing. Just be sure to cite me as the author of whatever you perform.
Some of my poems that have gone viral that I often get asked about (and have been used to win national forensics and speech & debate competitions in the past), appear in the following publications:
“What is Genocide?” – Man Up: Reimagining Modern Manhood (Penguin Random House, 2012)
“What Latino Looks Like,” “If a Princess Tries to Kidnap Your Daughter,” “Where are you really from?” – Fight Evil With Poetry (Sideshow Media Group, 2018)
I saw on your Upcoming Shows page that you have an event nearby. Can I attend the event? Where can I get tickets?
I would recommend Googling the info and reaching out to the college, university, or institution at which I’m scheduled to appear, as the policy regarding public attendees varies. If it was up to me, every event I do would be free and open to the public. Often that’s not the case, but I would love for you to attend if it’s allowed. I love meeting supporters of my work in far-away towns and countries!
What most inspires your creative process?
I’m often most inspired by that which is overlooked, unsaid, or unseen, whether it be something beautiful, horrific, or anything in-between. I’m called to write about what seems impossible to distill in language (meaning I’ll almost certainly fail, but I try anyway).
BONUS: I talk a bit about my creative process and philosophy, both generally and how it related to the writing of Fractures, in this great interview (if you feel inspired to read more!).
