TJ: Hello Topher and Hello Haru.
T-Hi
Haru: Hello!
TJ: Haru, I am very interested in your writing practice. What drew you to Insta poetry?
Haru: I liked the combination of language and imagery in a way that I can really express myself.
T- How much of your work is based on personal experience and how much is imagined?
Haru: It’s all based on personal experience. I have a lot of feelings to share with the world.
Tlly, I love your Pinterest, what made you pick those images? https://www.pinterest.com/tllyjmra/
Tj: Thank you! I feel really connected to the environment. As a laywer, so much of what I do is paperwork. So, any chance I get I explore visuals that connect me to our wonderful planet.
H: Topher why did you move to Greenland? Does your environment there influence your
work?
T- In my experience, most people are assholes, so moving to a place with less people means there are less assholes. So yeah, the lack of assholes helps me create better work! Greenland is just snow, and I fucking love that. And once in a while I see a fox trot on by.
Tj: I fucking love snow too.
H: That sounds beautiful! I want to travel more and I’d love to go to Greenland.
T- Just make sure you have a big ass coat. I mean it. You’ll freeze your tits off.
TJ: That’d be better than Global Warming that’s happening.
T- Tlly, how many birds do you consider close friends? Are birds assholes? I bet they’re nicer than people.
TJ: Great question Topher! I’m so complimented you’ve read my work. I have 12 close friends that are birds. They are all different species because I don’t discriminate.
T- I don’t even have 12 friends, bird or human! You must be one of those popular types.
TJ: I’m your friend, Topher!
T- You two are my only friends and I like it that way. Just kidding. Kind of. But I don’t like talking much to people. That’s mostly why I write.
TJ: Birds are much better to talk to than people.
H: I love bird watching! So much more peaceful than people watching. 🙂 Topher, have you seen a polar bear? Do they have those in greenland?
T- Polar Bears are the BEST! One time I saw one stained with blood from his latest kill. So badass. I wanted to follow it, but I thought it was better that I leave it alone. You know, for safety reasons
TJ: We won’t be able to see polar bears much longer because of the increased atmospheric carbon dioxide due to fossil fuels 🙁
H: Darn capitalism!
TJ: Haru, what were you like in high school?
H: You know how there’s always that one kid sitting on the ground in the hallway on their phone in a dark hoodie? That was me, of course.
T- I could see that.
Tj: That fits your brand.
T- Haru, do you have any non human friends?
H: Just my fictional friends 🙂 OC’s and the like.
T- TJ, what’s the main difference in a conversation with a bird versus a human?
Tj: Well, I work with lawyers. So, the main answer I get to most questions is “no.” With birds, it’s different. They are eager to tell you all about their day. Birds say “yes” to life. They’re interested in the environment, in the world, in the forest communities, and even in zoos. Birds have a thirst for life I’ve never seen in humans. Haru, I understand you like Harry Potter?
H: Like? LOVE. I assume you all love it too?
Tj: I enjoy the movies because the Hogwarts world is surrounded by beautiful forests and water. And, the creatures (magical and real) are treated with respect, something rarely seen on Earth. I wish that real animals had more representation. For example, at Hogwarts you are allowed to have an owl, rat, or cat. But, the rat is demonized, the cat is written off as ugly, and only one owl (Hedwig) prevails. I wish that the real animals got the same respect as the beloved magical creatures like Buckbeak.
T- I can’t say I was ever a fan.
H: Topher you break my smol heart. 🙁
T-It’s just not my thing. I like having my feet squarely planted in the real world. Anything else feels a little silly to me, but that’s just me. I know it takes a lot of imagination to come up with worlds like that.
H: Sometimes the real world isn’t good enough for me. #dangitcapitalism
Tj: I understand that. Sometimes (oftentimes) the real world isn’t good enough for me either. But, I think if we all work together and lobby against the polluters then we can get back the beauty in this world. I hope you see the beauty in this world one day.
H: Aww. <3
Tj: I hope you do too, Topher.
T- You see, I’m more interested in ways that we can improve what we have! I’m down for that.