Danse Desejo: An Interview

[Angeline]

Whether you are an old forum regular like me or newer to our corner of Literotica, you cannot have failed to notice Desejo. For one thing her avatar is watching us all with a mysteriously penetrating gaze. Is she a ninja? Apparently so, sometimes. She's also a poet and an exciting one at that.

I'm not sure how she discovered the PF&D forum (and yes I want to know!), but it has been fortuitous. Since she joined Lit in 2011, she has posted 40-plus poems and written way more than that on the forum. She's an active forum participant who gives great focused feedback and she is one of the few who reads new poems daily (not just on her "review" day) and comments on many of them. Her comments, whether on new poems or here on the forum are to the point and almost always substantive. You have to respect a poet that puts that kind of time into feedback and demonstrates she is reading carefully. I do.

I would not be surprised to find out that Desejo has been in love with reading and writing for a long time. She writes with great fluency and ease. Having read through her oeuvre on Lit as well as a lot of random stuff here on the forum, I find myself asking, why isn't this woman just publishing some books? I find myself hoping her poems don't languish here because they deserve a much wider audience. She has an absolutely unique voice, a wider perspective (she travels a lot) than most of us enjoy, and she has stories to tell. She seems unafraid to take chances in poems (make up a new word? rhyme? use onomatopoeia? no problem!) and can stagger you with an image or metaphor. Her erotic poems are off-the-charts good (and even some of her non-erotic poems are pretty erotic). There is an essential femininity in her writing that comes across, but unobtrusively. She really is that good.

Look at these few examples~

Ceylanese goddess thighs
Maori tattooed back
silver anklets and Beijing crimson toes

Samarkand caresses
liquid pearls on hennaed belly
contented sighs in the night

Salt distilled from Kathmandu tears

beaten adobe floor
Chinese mosquito coil
rat gnawed foam mattress

oil streaked Manila canals
charcoal smudges
burning garbage and plastic bags

rickshaw callused hands
sari wrapped stretch marks
cracked flip flops by the door

(excepted from Pier 1 Bedroom)

~

Open your palm
feel me roll down my fingers to match yours
every movement a caress
so gentle but so strong
our palms touch
and stay
in total silence
My hand to yours
radiating acceptance
the rest of the world is gone

(excerpted from The Palm of your hand)

~

Rain on stretched canvas percolates our conversation
in rushes, pauses and complex melodies

a celestial tabla player playing ragas
in the London monsoon

You pluck a wild English rose from the trellis and stare as
beads of cool water roll off the petals into my mouth

Roasted cardamom pods and cloves stir the air in a glorious orgy
Slow food is as good as foreplay

(excerpted from It's just lunch)

~

The smell of bacon
dredges surfers out of
hungover hang ten dreams
into bobbing formations around
the egg station

They brag about bar girls
even as the glass walled wedding chapel
across the lawn begins
the first of a steady tide
of unions

This couple looks Japanese
no one is in attendance
her dress looks too big for her
hair lacquered in sprayed
ringlets that scream special

(excerpted from Uluwatu, Bali)

~

Really you should read the whole poems because she also writes great endings. If you can spare an hour or so, read all her submissions. I defy you to do that and not come away as impressed as I was.

So now while we have her in our clutches before she flies off on a new poetry gathering mission, lets ask lots of questions because we have a lot to learn.

So Desejo, what's your poetry history? How long have you been writing it and what attracted you to poetry over other genres? Who are your favorite poets? That'll do for now.

 

[Desejo]

So Desejo, what's your poetry history? How long have you been writing it and what attracted you to poetry over other genres? Who are your favorite poets? That'll do for now.

Thanks for the intro Angeline. I'm a bit nervous about this, but at least I don't have to worry about what to wear

I’m tempted to claim that I started writing poetry at the same time as I started posting poems on lit, but that is not entirely true. Much to my horror I recently unearthed a trunk that had been in storage for several years. Along with such things as notes to my friends carefully preserved from the 4th grade and term papers I thought brilliant, behold……poetry (or something like it). The questionable works would have been written about a year after I graduated from college. All I can say is while my prose has aged well, the poems did not. I’ve found a couple of poems post that era, but made no systematic attempts to write poetry.

The impetus for coming to Lit was typical for me: someone challenged me. In this case it was something along the lines of “why don’t you do something serious with your writing?”. So I decided to try my hand at erotica (I did have an erotic story here, but I’ve since removed it). I posted a poem on a whim, got some positive (and critical) feedback, and kept at it. Erotica has its place, but I’m more interested in what goes on in the mind, not Kama sutra mechanics. What I like about poetry is that it is not only about what is on the page, it’s about the associations the words cause in the reader.

That I am here at all comes as a surprise to me. With a few exceptions, I avoided poetry and actively ignored it for years. If a poem was in a novel, I generally just skipped it. In retrospect, I think this has to do with the type of poem- and possibly the layout (I have an aversion to long paragraphs in italics).

Poets I like? – I’m still exploring. I have the Poetry Foundation app on my phone, and I read what comes up, and save what I like. I don’t always enjoy all the work by the same poet. I’m not a faithful fan type – no one gets it right all the time.

 

[todski28]

Since I have been here you have posted a lot of very good and critical feedback to myself and other new poets, I would like to first off say thank you.

the question I want to ask is what are you wearing or not...

really though what is it that drives you to help other poets when there are so many others that either don't care or have been burnt by trying to help?
How many death threats have you had from some person that didn't like your critique?

What did you major in in college?

 

[UnderYourSpell]

You're another poet I don't know and I expect that's my bad ........ so again tell me about yourself! Also as you travel a lot do you find yourself capturing sight of bits of other cultures and squirreling them away for future use in your poetry?

 

[twelveoone]

Erotica has its place, but I’m more interested in what goes on in the mind, not Kama sutra mechanics.

Oh, you do that quite well, It's just lunch was one of those few, I actually thought about for a day.

What I like about poetry is that it is not only about what is on the page, it’s about the associations the words cause in the reader.

Another thing I like, it takes awhile to arrive there. Anyway, do you remember the first altercation with me. Something along the lines of these are the first poems I ever wrote, my reaction being O really. (This so-called newb, has to be another goddamn alt.) You were that good, and you've grown.

Your comments put you up there with the best, 'nuff said. Good Luck.

 

[Desejo]

Since I have been here you have posted a lot of very good and critical feedback to myself and other new poets, I would like to first off say thank you.

the question I want to ask is what are you wearing or not...

You have 1201 to thank for that. When I first started posting he was on my case relentlessly about giving feedback. I didn't think I could do it, but once I started I found I probably got more out of it than the poets. Oh, and I am wearing the last of my 24 Faubourg perfume.

really though what is it that drives you to help other poets when there are so many others that either don't care or have been burnt by trying to help?
How many death threats have you had from some person that didn't like your critique?

I have to believe that people post on lit because they want feedback. I try to be careful about how I give suggestions. Sometimes I will opt for a PM. I haven't had an overt "stick your head in a place where the light don't shine" reaction so far. But there may well have been some covert retaliation (in scoring, for example). I don't know for sure.

What did you major in in college?

Undergrad in English and History. Graduate school in International Development Management.

 

[Desejo]

You're another poet I don't know and I expect that's my bad ........ so again tell me about yourself! Also as you travel a lot do you find yourself capturing sight of bits of other cultures and squirreling them away for future use in your poetry?

Let me tackle the second part of the question - and hopefully the rest of this thread will reply to the first part of it. I actually don't travel a lot in the sense of travel as tourism. The general pattern for me has been to be based in a country for around 4 years, sometimes more (for work). Most of the foreign references in my poems come from places I have lived/worked or have family in. I'm not conscious of squirreling away details, but I'm sure that does happen at some level.

 

[Desejo]

Oh, you do that quite well, It's just lunch was one of those few, I actually thought about for a day.

I meant erotic stories, not poetry. But thanks

Another thing I like, it takes awhile to arrive there. Anyway, do you remember the first altercation with me. Something along the lines of these are the first poems I ever wrote, my reaction being O really. (This so-called newb, has to be another goddamn alt.) You were that good, and you've grown.

Do I ever. I had no idea what an "alt" was. I've been questioned about being an Alt in PMs as well, including speculation about who I "really" am. I found the whole discussion bizarre and I had no idea why anyone would even want such a thing (aside from the obvious being able to vote on your own work, which is pathetic). Tzara's filing-vault/personality by Alt system was a revelation to me - but it's still just me here for now. No clone, no cloaks and daggers. I think that experience has made me more cautious in how I comment on poems. While we are past it now, it felt very unfair at the time - and not at all welcoming.

Glad I stuck around though

 

[Angeline]

I meant erotic stories, not poetry. But thanks




Do I ever. I had no idea what an "alt" was. I've been questioned about being an Alt in PMs as well, including speculation about who I "really" am. I found the whole discussion bizarre and I had no idea why anyone would even want such a thing (aside from the obvious being able to vote on your own work, which is pathetic). Tzara's filing-vault/personality by Alt system was a revelation to me - but it's still just me here for now. No clone, no cloaks and daggers. I think that experience has made me more cautious in how I comment on poems. While we are past it now, it felt very unfair at the time - and not at all welcoming.

Glad I stuck around though

One of the first things someone said to me about you is that you were someone else. They were convinced. And it's an insidious thing because then I read your poems and start looking for signs of this other poet in them. Just chalk it up to Literotica forums having a history of people who create alts and crazy internet drama ensues, fake death and all. I have seen some wacky stuff here. This forum has not been immune but here I think most who've used alts have admitted to them. When I was in the midst of an ugly divorce I had to write my erotic poems under a different name (Eleanora Day) because um my ex is nuts. So sometimes they are created for legit reasons. But creating alts to vote for your own poems is sad indeed.

I am wowed that you have been seriously writing poems for such a short time. Do you do a lot of writing for your work? Have you written much fiction? What were your interests when you studied English and history? You must have a lot of writing experience. You're such a strong writer.

Anyway, off to a great start. Night all.

 

[twelveoone]

You have 1201 to thank for that. When I first started posting he was on my case relentlessly about giving feedback. I didn't think I could do it, but once I started I found I probably got more out of it than the poets.

win-win

Glad I stuck around though

me too
since you are well traveled, are there any languages, accents that you have a particular fascination for? and do women sound better in one and men another?

 

[theognis]

I'm a great admirer of your poetry, as I think you know, but I don't think I'll ask about that. I'll ask about you, and you can choose to answer, or not.

Where were you born? What is your ethnicity? In which countries have you lived, and for how long in each? In which countries do your relatives live?

If the questions are too personal, my apologies.

 

[Desejo]

Do you do a lot of writing for your work? Have you written much fiction? What were your interests when you studied English and history? You must have a lot of writing experience. You're such a strong writer.

I don't know, really. I don't have anything to compare it to - what is a lot? For the past several years I would say I've done more more editing than writing. That is likely to change, and instead of reviewing documents I'll be drafting them. A welcome change.

The English/History double major was me being indecisive and not having any idea what I was actually going to DO with my degree. My coursework focused on American literature, middle eastern history. I've always written, but apart from work related things, not in a structured end product focused way. Bits and pieces here and there. I'm not very disciplined about writing outside of work. Lazy maybe.

 

[Desejo]

win-win

since you are well traveled, are there any languages, accents that you have a particular fascination for? and do women sound better in one and men another?

I generally have a fascination with languages. The structure of a language determines, or allows, thought in distinctive ways. It's unsettling to live in a place where you cannot read street signs - whenever that happens to me I pretty quickly try to learn the alphabet.

Your second question is funny. I think it really is a matter of personal taste. A friend of mine swoons over the way Thai women speak. Even if they talk about something like financial audits. I didn't get it at all. To me they sound like meowing birds - but I would say Thai is a very feminine sounding language. On the other hand, I think Greek sounds very male. I've also noticed that for men in particular, a man who sounds fine in his native language can sound ridiculous in a second one. A good example would be Senegalese superstar Youssou N'Dour - who sounds great in Wolof, fine in French, but like a mouse in English.

 

[Desejo]

I'm a great admirer of your poetry, as I think you know, but I don't think I'll ask about that. I'll ask about you, and you can choose to answer, or not.

Where were you born? What is your ethnicity? In which countries have you lived, and for how long in each? In which countries do your relatives live?

If the questions are too personal, my apologies.

I'll reply generally. I was born in New York state. I've lived about 5 years in Europe, 8 in West Africa, 8 in Asia/South Asia.

Per the standard American typing (which is ridiculous) I am quite simply "Caucasian". Beyond that, I'm half American (mostly English/German) and half middle eastern. It's probably easier to identify which countries I do NOT have relatives in.

 

[theognis]

I'll reply generally. I was born in New York state. I've lived about 5 years in Europe, 8 in West Africa, 8 in Asia/South Asia.

Per the standard American typing (which is ridiculous) I am quite simply "Caucasian". Beyond that, I'm half American (mostly English/German) and half middle eastern. It's probably easier to identify which countries I do NOT have relatives in.

Thanks, Desejo. I was guessing there could be Middle Eastern in your makeup.

Which continent is your favorite, if you have one? Country?

 

[bogusagain]

How much are you erotic poems based on reality, how much on projection and how much on wishful thinking?

Questions which might sound like salacious digging for pornography but since pumping meat doesn't enter your poetry, we're really talking about the psychology of the erotic.

 

[Desejo]

Thanks, Desejo. I was guessing there could be Middle Eastern in your makeup.

Makeup? I am not even wearing Khol in my avatar .

Which continent is your favorite, if you have one? Country?

I get asked this question frequently.

The factors that make or break a place for me are people, culture, weather, and standard of living. Standard of living is only marginally about income. It covers basics (is there electricity? do I have to truck in water? how's the health care?decent schools? Is it about to break into civil war?), entertainment,food and whether things I believe are essential to my sanity - like household help, books, and public transportation - are available and affordable. Then there are practical considerations - like whether I can live and work there without having to get a visa every three weeks.

The problem is, countries that score high in some categories fail in others. A long way of saying I have yet to find the perfect country. There are always tradeoffs.

Reconciling my climate preferences with culture and work has been the biggest challenge. I dislike heat. I've learned to deal with it, but not happily.

 

[darkmaas]

It's often stated that, "Travel broadens the mind". In many that is true, but I've spent (in the sense of wasted) far too much time huddled over drinks with career expats desperately trying to relive, recall, rework the old rituals of their lives before leaving home.

Care to comment?

::

 

[Desejo]

How much are you erotic poems based on reality, how much on projection and how much on wishful thinking?

Questions which might sound like salacious digging for pornography but since pumping meat doesn't enter your poetry, we're really talking about the psychology of the erotic.

Interesting. Most of my erotic poems take elements from reality and extrapolate. I suppose you could call that wishful thinking, but I don't think it is as difficult as we generally believe to cross lines between what we would want, and what happens...provided there is a basis for the desires/wishes in the real world.

Quite honestly I find the this is what we could do, putting the idea in the readers head, as erotic as the this is what we did.

 

[Desejo]

It's often stated that, "Travel broadens the mind". In many that is true, but I've spent (in the sense of wasted) far too much time huddled over drinks with career expats desperately trying to relive, recall, rework the old rituals of their lives before leaving home.

Care to comment?

::

You've been hanging around the wrong expats . I have of course run into those types too. The ones who have an entire basement full of Charmin toilet paper and canned tuna fish because they can't possibly stand the local kind, and who wax poetic about hamburgers. I don't really understand what drives those types to stay overseas. Complaining, maybe?

The kind of expat I prefer is someone who is so damn independent that they prefer to live somewhere where they are foreign (thus not subject to strict application of local culture) and where there are not enough of their own countrymen to impose behavioral expectations on them.

 

[theognis]

Makeup? I am not even wearing Khol in my avatar .


I get asked this question frequently.

The factors that make or break a place for me are people, culture, weather, and standard of living. Standard of living is only marginally about income. It covers basics (is there electricity? do I have to truck in water? how's the health care?decent schools? Is it about to break into civil war?), entertainment,food and whether things I believe are essential to my sanity - like household help, books, and public transportation - are available and affordable. Then there are practical considerations - like whether I can live and work there without having to get a visa every three weeks.

The problem is, countries that score high in some categories fail in others. A long way of saying I have yet to find the perfect country. There are always tradeoffs.

Reconciling my climate preferences with culture and work has been the biggest challenge. I dislike heat. I've learned to deal with it, but not happily.

The Khol isn't needed, it appears. I wish the niqab weren't, either. (I realize it may not actually be a niqab, but it's interfering with my prying eyes, nevertheless.)

 

[Angeline]

I don't know, really. I don't have anything to compare it to - what is a lot? For the past several years I would say I've done more more editing than writing. That is likely to change, and instead of reviewing documents I'll be drafting them. A welcome change.

The English/History double major was me being indecisive and not having any idea what I was actually going to DO with my degree. My coursework focused on American literature, middle eastern history. I've always written, but apart from work related things, not in a structured end product focused way. Bits and pieces here and there. I'm not very disciplined about writing outside of work. Lazy maybe.

Maybe your editing experience affected your ability to produce good poetry. I've done a lot of editing, both line editing and the more substantive kind. It forced me to look more closely at elements of writing because editing is not just correcting typos and grammatical errors (though it can be limited to that). It's ensuring that the writing achieves whatever its purpose is supposed to be. It takes skill and craft to be good at it (and a lot of boring practice). I feel like I just had an ah-ha about you. (Maybe I'm wrong. I have a hell of an imagination.)

Also you sound like you know at least a few languages and that is another skill imo that helps one understand their first language even better. I know a little Spanish and less French, but when I studied them I had to think about how English grammar worked and how that was different from language X. But I haven't lived outside America, so maybe the immersion experience of language learning is different. (Actually this is a question I ponder about any poets here who've been immersed in different cultures.)

How do you think your experience with different cultures affects your writing? Is it more than exotic subject matter (exotic to someone who hasn't experienced it)? Does the language or experience of a culture have unique characteristics that transfer to one's own writing? Do you think you are able to write more like [fill in the culture] because you lived or worked there?

 

[butters]

these threads fascinate

desejo, i'm really really glad you stayed, too. after catching up on reading your subs, i'll be back with questions - probably sunday. you have some delicious writes.

 

[HarryHill]

Explain the process you use in preparing a recommendation post; do you consider that to be a chore, duty, or enjoyment? Are you smiling under the veil?

 

[Desejo]

How do you think your experience with different cultures affects your writing? Is it more than exotic subject matter (exotic to someone who hasn't experienced it)? Does the language or experience of a culture have unique characteristics that transfer to one's own writing? Do you think you are able to write more like [fill in the culture] because you lived or worked there?

Learning a new language gives some insight into a culture, yes. But I am very wary of trying to write like a (fill in the nationality or culture that I am not). The furthest you can go with that is to build upon what you hear directly. What people say, or tell you about. If you live in a country long enough, you will understand things better. But, to paraphrase an African folk saying: no matter how long the crocodile lays in the river, it does not become a log. I can write about things I have seen that many have not. But I am very skeptical of people who claim to be experts in a country or culture because they have married into to it or lived there for years. I'm not sure what an expert is - especially in a whole COUNTRY.