I think this was my first instance of trying to write poetic language. But even recently in my poem, ‘Heavy Metal’, I do the same thing:

All my goddesses are heavy metal
Because they were all burnt on hot irons at sea, in small villages,
backyards with burning crosses

So I’m obviously referencing Brujas. Federici has had a huge impact on my life and I think most young people should read her.

EG: How do you make a poem? How do you start and how do you finish?

JG: I don’t really know yet, it’s almost a mystifying experience. I talked about with Tongo Eisen-Martin once, and we both said it’s like chasing a high sometimes. It’s trying to capture the purest moment and moments are fleeting. I think usually my poems tell me when they’re done with me.

EG: Who are you reading at the moment?

JG: I’m reading all of my friend’s work. I’m obsessed with what is coming out the bay. I love Andrea Abi-Karam, Andrea Marina, E Conner, Tongo Eisen-Martin, Ed Luker (not in the bay) and Frances Chanel. They all write stuff that I wish I wrote. I’ve been taking a break from reading book books, but I want to return to Paul Virilio’s Negative Horizon and some Wilheim Reich. I’ve been reading the live updates about the national prison strike on Mask Magazine‘s website. And also this zine called let the crops rot.

EG: Are you working on any projects we can look forward to seeing in the future?

JG: I have a full length book forthcoming from Commune Editions.