Poet Spotlight: Interview with Associated Content Producer, C-Love

If the work of a talented poet has ever caught your attention here on Associated Content, you know just how much their words can captivate, uplift, inspire and enlighten. While poets do not always get the recognition they deserve for their ability to impact others, they tend to leave imprints on hearts and minds that can last a lifetime. I have run across several of these exceptionally gifted individuals since I've been writing for AC, and one that stands out in my mind has aptly chosen the name "C-Love" for herself.

A native of Austin, Texas and honors graduate of the University of Texas with degrees in both journalism and public relations, C-Love describes writing as "a powerful way to express thoughts, touch lives and give voice to controversial issues." She is a single mother who lives with her teenage daughter and her "rambunctious" miniature schnauzer. She is also an avid sports fan and is never ashamed to root for her favorite NBA team - the Los Angeles Lakers - in the heart of Spurs country!

C-Love is beautiful, witty and multidimensional. One minute she may be working out at the gym; the next, succumbing to one of her biggest temptations - tapioca pudding. You may find her at a live sporting event or at her church, where she is a proud member of the Praise Team, which celebrates the glory of God and the gift of life through song. But fortunately for Associated Content, C-Love also takes the time to share her poetry with fellow writers and readers. And those who are familiar with her work know that she never disappoints.

I recently interviewed C-Love so that I could learn a little more about her.

Dr. M: In your poem, "Revolutionize Yourself", you urge readers: "Step out, take a chance, roll the dice. Taking risks will change your life." What is the greatest risk that you have ever taken in your life and what was the end result?

C-Love: This is a very difficult question. I would have to say my greatest risk was choosing to have my daughter at such a young age - 16 - and knowingly walking into single parenthood. Becoming a parent completely changed the course of my life. It forced me to mature faster and helped me become more selfless by basing my decisions on what was best for her instead of what I may have wanted. Having her and encountering the various struggles along the way as a result of being a single parent has shaped who I am today. It pushed me to not surrender but rather fight to achieve at times when circumstances felt overwhelming out of the realization it wasn't just me I was fighting for. I knew I didn't have the right to give up seeing that she didn't ask to be here and my decisions directly affected her. In the end, she's been a life partner of sorts that I've had the pleasure of growing up with and my life has been made richer as I grew from each hardship we overcame.

Dr. M: I love your poem "You Were There," and can relate to it on a number of levels. If you knew your time here on this earth was just about up and therefore you could write only one more poem, what would the subject of that poem be and why?

C-Love: Love. I believe God is love. God made us in His image of love and the desire to have a love relationship with us of our own free will. Everything we do in life goes back to our basic desires to give or receive love. Even going to work every day, which we do to earn money or maintain a career so we can obtain our basic primal needs of food, shelter and preservation of life. We work to sustain life in order to cultivate relationships. In my opinion, the greatest power that exists is love. It fuels other motivating forces such as faith, hope and determination. Love heals, comforts, and brings peace and self-actualization. Everyone needs love and Luther Vandross said it best, "There's Nothing Better than Love".

Dr. M: Are there any particular writers whose works have inspired you over the years? If so, who are they?

C-Love: There are many so I'll just list a couple that had special meaning: Laura Ingles Wilder and the "Little House on the Prairie" series. Strange choice, I know, but when I was young, I would read these books over and over. They provided a means of escape and established my love for reading and language. These were the first books I would read and see the images vividly as if I were watching a movie. I'd read the whole series repeatedly prior to watching the television series and personally, I preferred my cast! HAHA!

I fell in love with Terry McMillan in high school when I read "Waiting to Exhale". I was so captivated by the story, I couldn't put the book down and my parents would take it away as an incentive to complete my chores. I met Terry McMillan at a book signing she was doing for "The Interruption of Everything" here in Austin in July of 2005. When I met her, I found her to be more enthralling than her writing. She encouraged me not to try and fit a particular format or meet a standard set by others, but to allow the voice within me to tell its own stories because that's where greatness resides.

There are so many others: Zora Neale Hurston, Maya Angelou, Bebe Moore Campbell, Eric Jerome Dickey, Diane Mckinney-Whetstone....I could literally go on all day so I'll stop.

Dr. M: You are the mother of a teenage daughter. If you could select one poem that you've either published or read on AC that conveys an important message you'd like to share with your daughter, which poem would you select and why?

C-Love: Man that's a hard question to answer! Can I pick two? "I Still Have Hope" and "Irrevocable Impact". I want her to know that if she never gives up and if she lives her life on purpose, she will achieve more than she could ever fathom. I picked "I Still Have Hope" because before she can experience the fullness love and life have to offer, she has to first believe in herself and the future God has promised her. I picked "Irrevocable Impact" because I want her to make decisions and connections with others purposefully. I want her to instinctively engage in random acts of kindness, find opportunities to touch and affect others because as long as her heart and intentions are to do right by others, more will do right by her. I want her to comprehend the depth of what some consider a meaningless encounter at the grocery store. How one kind word or deed could restore someone's hope in humanity. At the same time, she should understand cruel, hurtful words and deeds have the same affect and everything we do in life either builds up or tears down. Everything we think, say and do is either positive or negative, leading us in a positive or negative direction and bringing us closer to or further from our purpose.

Dr. M: As a single mother, what philosophies do you live by when it comes to dating and love?

C-Love: Honesty and the Word of God. I try to be as honest with my daughter as I can be about dating and love to prevent her from possibly making some of the same mistakes I've made and provide her with enough information to make sound decisions. I hope I've created an environment that is conducive to honest communication about things as uncomfortable as love and dating. I sometimes cringe on the inside answering a question or listening to her share, but I would rather she feel comfortable coming to me than not knowing where she's getting possibly wrong information. I try and use Godly principals as the basis for guidelines I present and use life experiences and examples as supporting documentation. I don't just tell her what she should or shouldn't do, but aim to show her the logic and rationale behind stated principals and ensure she understands the ramifications of poor decisions in this realm.

Dr. M: There are a number of talented male poets here on AC. Some of them write passionately about love and romance. How do you feel when you read such poems written by men?

C-Love: It's refreshing to see men that are able to express sentiment about love and romance. Sometimes society tends to assume men are hardened, heartless, unemotional beings, which is so untrue. I really enjoyed A.M. Morgan's "Do Men Really Fall Harder in Love?" because it focused on the tenderness and passion that can be found in a man's heart. I try not to assume everything written on AC is autobiographical since everything I post isn't, but when I come across poems or articles written by men that are soft, sweet, and sincere or display warmth usually not associated with or depicted by men, I enjoy them even more. My favorite male content producer is D.A. Ashton and my favorite poem by him is "War Within". No matter how many times I read the poem (and I read it pretty often), I'm moved tremendously by the raw, poignant emotion conveyed.

Dr. M: I found your poem entitled, "I Still Have Hope" to be highly inspirational. What is it that gives you a renewed sense of hope each day to carry on and pursue your dreams?

C-Love: God! Jeremiah 29:11. Knowing that God created me specifically the way I am on purpose to fulfill the purpose and dreams He placed within me is motivating. My journey is not a choice and giving up is not an option. No matter what comes or how dark it gets, I know if I don't quit I win. People often ask how do I do all I do or comment they admire my drive and determination. I don't see it as doing anything spectacular; I'm simply doing what I have to do. If you need to go to the store you have to get in the car and drive there. I have to go through stop at lights, change lanes and obey traffic laws along the way. That's how I view this course of life.

Whatever presents itself while I'm on the way to my goals, dreams or destination is part of the journey, not something that's optional or avoidable. For example, I graduated from college two years ago. I was a single parent attending school full-time and working full-time. Some semesters that meant leaving the house when it was dark and getting home after dark. Some inquired how I could do it for so long. How could I sacrifice so much? To me it wasn't a sacrifice, it was a given like the energy expended to breathe. It wasn't negotiable. To get the degree, I had to determine I was willing to do whatever it took. I know God has a plan for my life and has placed things in me I've yet to discover. I know if I press on through faith, hope and love, I will bring my destiny into fruition and that's incentive enough to keep pushing in the face of adversity. I'm the only one that can stop me....so I won't.

Dr. M: Publishing poetry is not an easy way to generate page views or performance payments on AC. Given this fact, what motivates you to continue publishing your work on this website?

C-Love: On more than one occasion, I've received an email about something I've posted and how it touched or encouraged someone. That's what Associated Content is about for me. Before I discovered AC, I was writing regularly and I still don't even post the majority of what I write to AC. I see AC as an opportunity to share with others and get honest, unbiased feedback from people I don't know. Through posting and sharing, I also get the opportunity to know other content producers and learn new and interesting things from their writing as well.

Dr. M: Poets are often thought to be deep and serious individuals. What characteristics do you possess that contradict these assumptions?

So many of my characteristics contradict that notion. I can be a very deep and serious, but the majority of the time I'm a fun-loving individual. Those closest to me might even use words like 'silly' or 'crazy' to describe me, but I like to say 'sensibly silly' or 'versatile'. My daughter has the most insight living with me. She hears the songs I make up on the spot and witnesses the corresponding dances that sometimes come along with them. I think I have a pretty good sense of humor, am very playful, laugh loudly and often.

Dr. M: On an entirely different note, how does a Lakers fan survive in the Land of the Spurs and how did you feel about the outcome of the 2008 NBA Finals?

C-Love: HAHA!! Winners always survive. I think by being a true fan that doesn't renounce my team when they're down, the Spurs fans around me have come to accept my stance. Going to a live game during The Finals was a different story, but I wasn't crazy enough to wear my Lakers jersey.

In my heart and mind, the 2008 NBA Finals ended with the Lakers/Spurs series. The Lakers beat the Spurs and that's all that mattered to me! I honestly didn't expect to see my team back in the playoffs so soon, especially not in the finals, so it was all a bonus. We'll see you again next year!