Meet Gabriela Bittencourt | Poet

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gabriela Bittencourt and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gabriela, do you have some perspective or insight you can share with us on the question of when someone should give up versus when they should keep going?
That’s an important question, thank you for asking it. I believe you need to have an ongoing honest dialogue with yourself, above all. A lot of people confuse “growing up” with “giving up.” Your ideas should evolve. Your poem should sound different, at different points of your career.

Sometimes “giving up” that line you love, that line that doesn’t agree with the heart of the piece, is keeping going. I have found that I get most frustrated when I’m subconsciously refuting the poem’s truth.

Not too long ago, I asked this question myself. I was in attendance at ArtReach’s NEA Big Read last year, and was looking forward to hearing from Joy Harjo. I’m a Harjo admirer; she is one of the best poets in my eyes. I remember feeling pretty low and frustrated with the writing process at the time. Received a couple of rejections. The interviewer opened up the conversation to the public and asked us to submit questions. I remember being nervous to confess that this was on my mind. So I asked anonymously. I will never forget Harjo’s answer.

She goes “Some poems are lessons.” Right then, I got it: We don’t just work on poems, poems do work on us. So instead of asking yourself, “keep going” or “give up,” ask “where is my next lesson?” Your answer may have you writing a whole new poem. Allow it.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m excited to share the poems that have been revealing themselves to me. Love poems, latinx poems, Florida poems. Poems about sorrow and happiness, revelation and change. I’m really excited to share them all with you…

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Hmmmmm…. I would without a doubt suggest a beach day. Nothing beats a serene day, in a secluded spot, with the waves crushing in the background and the sunlight dancing on your skin.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Another great question… I’d say just about every one of my relationships deserves a shoutout, truly…  but I’d like to give special thanks to Brooklyn Poets, Jose Hernandez Diaz, and my partner.

Instagram: @bittencourt__g

Twitter: @realg_bittenc