Philosophy of a Poet
I first became known in the world of poetry for using verse to keep my escrows going. Taking the opposite tact of iconic modernist poets like Wallace Stevens and T.S. Eliot, who kept their day jobs at a seeming distance from their poetry, the Poet-Broker employed poetry as a tool in commercial real estate. My “Poetic Request for 30 Day Extension of Contingencies” was cited in the Los Angeles Times for enabling a redevelopment project. A piece published in the Wall Street Journal admonished clients in couplets. To place poetic legitimacy on my state-issued real estate licenses, I have had some signed by world renowned writers, including Seamus Heaney and Evan Boland.
Prior to my near-death experience, I was becoming bored with this persona. But as a fan of Federico Garcia Lorca, I began to work with poems carrying lunar motifs in urban landscapes. Surviving six harrowing days in the Mojave Desert in 2010 has only deepened my desire to employ my imagery in the direction of spiritual exploration. These poems can be found in my collection The Desert Hat.
Below are a few articles I’ve collected since 1994 with my published poetry, many of which feature the character of the Poet-Broker. They include the Wall Street Journal, Los Angles Times, The Garment & Citizen, The Downtown LA News, and others. Also, one piece published in La Opinión about Broadway and the need to establish business Improvement districts to provide a foundation for development when Los Angeles City failed to provide security and sanitation.
There are also a few programs from events where I read my poetry, like at the swearing in of Councilwoman Jan Perry, open mic nights, the event Ad/Verse Reactions with Jack Skelly, and the Urban Marketplace.
A few more published in books and journals.
One of my favorite poems here is not by me, but by a boy named Ramon Rodriguez, the winner of an annual poetry contest I put together for four years that was administered by the Urban Land Institute.
Finally, a few images you thought you would never see. I never enjoyed any real estate deal as much as selling the Burns building to Tarina Tarintino Jewelers. After the deal closed, the new owners filmed a forty page magazine murder story, “Tokyo Hard Core,” on the roof of the building. I played detective Eddie Polanco.
poetbroker.com 