Congratulations to Clayton Pedro for having their following poem chosen for publication on Blank Canvas Post. The poem that follows is a truly wonderful exploration of judgement and adversity. Please read the follow conversation between us at Blank Canvas Post and Clayton Pedro to understand more about the writer and the context for this brilliant poem.
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Writer Spotlight: Clayton Pedro
Originally from Luanda, Angola, Clayton Pedro has been writing since the age of twelve. “It has been thirteen years since the first time I decided to string a few words together into a song, and from there I felt like a whole world of opportunities to exorcise the stories I had been quietly telling myself opened up to me”, says Clayton Pedro.
What was it that made you start writing?
Cartoons, music and movies. I’ve always been fascinated by storytelling and the role of words. Ironically, one cartoon that I remember being captivated by growing up was Tom and Jerry. In that case, actions spoke louder than any words ever could, which showed me that less can be more. Tom and Jerry spoke a universal language, understood by kids and adults alike, that didn’t require any translation.
What experiences have you had that have shaped the writer you are today?
I moved from Angola to the U.S when I was around 11, then moved again at 16 from the U.S to Namibia, then back to Angola then to Italy and now I live in Portugal. I’ve moved quite a bit. Every country I’ve lived in came with its own set of challenges, obstacles, many of which rooted in cultural differences initially. But I’ve learned to be a sponge and a chameleon. And so has my writing. The first time anyone actually told me that I should keep writing was in Namibia. My English teacher at the time gave us a theme and challenged us to write a poem about the theme in question. She seemed particularly happy with what I had written so that gave me even more fuel to keep writing.
What genres are you writing at the moment? What genres do you enjoy writing?
Coming of age, young adult stories are my favourite ones to write. I find myself in that very phase of life, as do most of my friends which makes writing these stories feel autobiographical when really it’s just what millions of other young adults are going through.
What inspires you to write? Where do you take your inspiration from?
Life itself inspires me. A leaf falling from a tree. A ram packed train that forces strangers to rub shoulders. A new relationship. A breakup. Just about anything that goes on, if looked at closely is already telling a story, but it’s up to us to point them out and be the microscope others need to see the same story from their perspective.
What does your writing process look like (e.g., environment, tools, setting)?
I write mostly on my laptop and on my phone. My laptop when I’m at home and my phone whenever I’m out and about and happen to feel like I need to write something. I have a one hour commute from home to work so I’d say I spent quite a bit of time writing on the train.
What do you envisage when you are writing something new? Are you writing with the intention of sharing something new, or are you simply writing to write, for example?
I write just to write. I sometimes share my writing with my closest friends, and it brings a different level of excitement but I rarely write with that in mind.
Why do you think that community is important for writers and creative people?
Community is important for writers because it’s a safe space for us to not only be able to share an intimate part of ourselves with people that share the same passion for creativity but also for us to be able to bounce ideas and ideals off of each other, while becoming better people and creatives in the process.
Where do you currently share you work?
Online.
Why did you submit your work to Blank Canvas Post? What drew you to our publication?
I was drawn by how open Blank Canvas Post is to all kinds of writing. As someone that likes to write poetry, but also short stories, essays and even trying my hand at writing a novel, it gives me a sense of relief to not feel boxed into a single square. I was also drawn by the opportunity of giving anyone writer to submit their work, no matter how established they may or may not be.
About the Poem: Crime and Punishment
Regarding Crime and Punishment, what inspired you to write this piece?
A friend. This piece is largely based on the experience a friend of mine had during her first year at a University, in a new country, while struggling to adapt to the people that surrounded her at the time.
What is the context for this piece? What is the main feeling or message behind it?
The main feeling expressed is the experience of being judged by others for who you are and the emotional labour of masking your true self in order to survive that judgement. It’s a crime to be different, so we smile in the face of judgement.
What was the process of writing this piece like for you? What did this process look like?
I had just read White Nights by Dostoyevsky, a book that explores loneliness extensively and my friend had just shared her struggles adapting in this new country she was living in. It all came together spontaneously. Despite never having actually finished reading Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment, I thought it was a fitting title that would convey half the message on its own.
Why did you choose to submit this piece specifically to Blank Canvas Post?
I chose Blank Canvas Post because it gives me a sense of community and subsequently a safe space for myself and other writers to be able to express themselves freely.
So, without further ado, here is Crime and Punishment, a poem written by Clayton Pedro.
Crime and Punishment, by Clayton Pedro.
That scissor smile is on a paper plane and little laughs on crutches, And clutching cause it's a heavy weight beneath a feathered surface. That scissor smile is at its sharpest when carpets collude with closets, The closets will hide the carcass while carpets do dirty laundry. That scissor smile is a frontier that away from tears keeps you, It's a wall that isn't guarded at all when you're away from those people. The ones wearing gowns, whose words are a gavel, and stares indictments, The ones that stare you down Whose words surely travel, But swear they're righteous.
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Intriguing to hear this story of a confident soul hunting its dream