Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kerry Bowser. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Kerry thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?
Yes & No. Minus the earnings. I remain thankful for the blessing, opportunity, and journey. Non-routine, may have satisfied my insatiable/ By my thirties, I already worked at more places than my age. Many were good positions with career opportunities, yet personal habits interfered. Fortunately, societal validation and expectations weren’t important. I may not have found my voice otherwise.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Wow, that’s a loaded question, answerable, no doubt. The most crucial element about me is I’m humble and down-to-earth. Possibly old-fashioned in terms of having an I’m smarter than you syndrome. Yet, the one essence I feel sets me apart. My writing/storytelling/poetry isn’t pretentious and beyond rationale. My viewpoints aren’t per se always race-influenced.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
In having a unique perspective and inclusivity. When, poetry became my outlet to vent and restructure my identity. As a school bus driver, I noticed that the children I transported had their trials and tribulations, so I began documenting motivational segments to uniform our entire experience. Poetry became a rousing chorus using their voices in “BUS 3609” to & from school daily, drawing the attention of newspapers and turning bus renditions into classroom recitals to festivals and special performances. My storytelling isn’t exclusive. My observations capture slices of life in general. Even though some deny their role, synonymous is not an allegation. Good, bad, and indifferent experience shouldn’t be overlooked. Not addressing one-of-a-kind articulation, reaction, faults, anguish and unforgettable smiles is a disservice!
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
In the year 2000, when preparing for my return back to LA. A fun-filled day on the sands of a Washington coast beach nearly became a life-ending tragedy after my recreational four-wheeler flipped 3 1/2 times when doing donuts in the soft, wet sand. Although I believed I would gather myself afterward and make the two-hour drive home, In actuality, paralyzed below my waist, I fractured three vertebrae in my neck. My frailty required a medical helicopter flight and emergency spinal surgery the following morning. Walking again would take months, and therapy began to take its toll- close to self-destruction. I prepared my final poem of Six short words. In time reading it returned my faith, courage, momentum, positivity and God-gift.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://BOWSERBARKS.net
- Facebook: Kerry Lee Bowser
- Other: SoundCloud music site: Poetry selection over music. LIFE RHYTHM POETRY, plus 2Deep4U
Image Credits
Eric Thompson