Voice Over by Val Cole

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POEM:

1) What is the theme of your poem?

The theme of Where Dreams Sit and They Soak is about pausing long enough to appreciate the moment with someone you love and not wanting that moment to end. Not many things in life are promised, and nothing lasts forever. Even if the moment ends and you are no longer with that person, after the hurt and pain subside, you'll be glad you shared that moment together. The universe works in mysterious ways sometimes.

2) What motivated you to write this poem?

Ironically, I was thinking about my last relationship. Not everything has to be loud or dramatic and that relationship itself wasn't bad. This poem came from a moment of slowing down and allowing myself to breathe. Around that time, she was going through a lot, and what followed was one of those comforting moments when the world gets heavy. Instead of venting, you just listen, really listen until things calm down. As far as motivation, I wouldn't call it distraction, but if we're not careful. We forget how beautiful we are and how often trivial things pull us away from what we really want and need.

3) How long have you been writing poetry?

I've been writing and scribbling since I was a preteen. My first published piece was in 2006, a poem called Equilibrium in an anthology titled Collected Whispers. Around my teenage years, I started taking it more seriously, writing that is. Trying to write about emotions, things I went through, and thoughts that stayed with me.

4) If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?

I'd love to have dinner with my parents, Wayne and Keneethia Wadley. Uninterrupted, the way it was when I was a kid. They're both still here, which is a blessing, but with work and everything going on in the world, it's very often just a quick hi and bye or we're too tired to truly hang out. Still, we make time for each other and talk every day, and I'd really treasure having that slow and uninterrupted time again.

Actually with all my family honestly.

5) What influenced you to submit to have your poetry performed by a professional actor?

Honestly, I wanted to hear my words interpreted through another voice. What WILDsound does is amazing the few pieces I've had accepted take on a new life and meaning when performed. My favorite so far was A Match That Forgot How to Breathe. I love hearing other writers' work transformed by professional actors, and when it's my own. I sit back in awe, it's hard believing those words came from me.

Thank you for doing that for me.

6) Do you write other works? Scripts? Short stories? Etc.?

Yes, I write short stories and sometimes borderline essays. I also collaborate and co-create with other artists in different mediums. Poetry may be the core, but it branches out in many ways.

7) What is your passion in life?

Connection is my passion. Whether through a conversation, a poem, a book, or supporting someone else's work, I believe connection is what reminds us we're not alone. Whether good times and/or in bad, there's always something be it a word, a gesture, there's always something that triggers a memory that ties us back to each other.

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POEM:

There is no particular sound
that rustles through the trees,
different from the music
we listen to.
different than the sounds
our hearts are used to.
Your hands grab and hold me
like I have somewhere
better to be,
fingers interwoven
against the middle
of my back,
like tiny branches,
like this is where you
planned to be,
settling deeper
into my chest.

I press my lips to your forehead,
a place filled with dark honey
surrounded by mahogany oak,
where dreams sit and they soak
until they are sticky and ripe.

I kiss you like
the night has no end,
like your bones have endless marrow,
like there isn’t another you.
Your arms are still.
Your lips say nothing.
There is no particular sound
that rustles through the trees,
no different than how
my heartbeat
thumps against yours.