We were lucky to catch up with Kerry Lee Bowser recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Kerry Lee thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you feel you or your work has ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized? If so, tell us the story and how/why it happened and if there are any interesting learnings or insights you took from the experience?

What is hard to imagine and digest throughout 1985-95 is unconcernedly doing my job under the influence of marijuana, alcohol, and often cocaine. And with specific climacteric situations, things could have gotten out of control without being high.

As a public-school bus driver at the time, his young passengers also sought relief from forced bussing, family, and educational woes. Poetry became a staple onboard, breaking the communicative barrier among his multicultural students in elementary through high school.

Although he cannot justify his actions and fortunately, no children were hurt (outside one whom he witnessed getting hit by a speeding auto). He walks you through events behind the cause of his recklessness addiction, which began in the 6th grade, a successful athletic career (ending in high school). Where at the time he loses his brother and a close cousin at both age nineteen and discovers he’s likely been dyslexic. And how his actions are routine among friends and co-workers in every aspect and job leading to becoming a bus driver.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Personal frustrations led to jotting rhyming verses seeking answers and a soul cleansing. Although my journey’s full of questionable scenarios from the 6th grade, There’s no doubt a higher calling is undeniable! Life, Rhythm, and Poetry became my instrument to decipher my purpose. Life: I had a speech disorder as a child and couldn’t pronounce certain words. Rhythm/Rhyme: became a flow and way to say things to hide my embarrassment. Poetry/Storytelling: are the result! Surprisingly, writing, spelling, and elocution continue to haunt me.
I don’t fit the profile in a field where everything is scrutinized microscopically; then again, life stories aren’t. So my expressions and interpretations are problematic for professionals and humbling for most who see life, have had challenges, and have endured or know someone unwilling to back down no matter how much they are not welcome.
I am most proud of some of my first work. To this day, like songs capturing early moments and periods embedded in our sync. Poems written in the eighties (which now have become remixes) have a similar impact. And though there are plenty of drugs, sexual references, discrimination, community, and personal interactions, no beauty is wasted. Consider my journey a cross between Langston Hughes, Iceberg Slim, Donald Goines, Melvin Van Peebles, and the Wayans.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

In 2000, after selling my abilities as a poet, reciter, and performer, I pursued commercial acting, selling my belief that it was the next stepping stone. Even though I practiced and confidently rehearsed my Two-minute dialogue, I blew the audition. Yet, I convinced the agency I wouldn’t let them down, and the second audition, I received a callback. Winning their confidence and dozens of commercials later. Convinced that I was ready to pursue it thoroughly and return to LA. I prepared my home for sale and one last weekend of joyous fun on the beach riding my four-wheeler. Unfortunately, I’d push my vehicle to its limit, and 3 1/2 flips later, I laid on wet sand, paralyzed with a broken neck.
Not wanting to become anyone’s burden, the thought of suicide became rampant. Moreso having to learn to walk again, I experienced how others with disabilities are frowned upon and treated.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Reconstruct the thought pattern of how writing is viewed and sold. Like a hand sanitizer’s “99.9%., that’s also the amount of publishing and poetry rejection I’ve received. Though much of my work has made favorable impressions and cries of why aren’t they published? Major and minor publishers, journals, agents, and influencers discriminate. There’s little room for “writer” trendsetters or worse if your material is flawed.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://BOWSERBARKS.NET
• Facebook: Kerry Lee [email protected]

Image Credits
Eric Thompson