Ask the Author: Jonterri Gadson

Jonterri Gadson’s poetry graces the May issue. She talks to us about quiet heros, great disappointments, and swimming in pools of sweat.

1. Would you trust a quiet hero?

I would trust and prefer a quiet hero. I would love someone to save me without monologue-ing first or debriefing bystanders afterward. Also, I think it would be kind of a big deal that my life was saved, so I would hope people would want to hear a little about how I feel about still being alive. It occurs to me that this is exactly why I write.

Obviously, I would not be a quiet hero.

2. Who is your greatest disappointment and why?

I’m disappointed in everyone who helps to create unrealistic expectations of roles that women play, like being a mother or a wife or even just being in love and what that means. It’s not all fudge and butterflies. Women’s roles are complicated and often oppressive. So if I have to pinpoint a “who” exactly…I blame writers of romantic comedies.

3. How would you save a mall held hostage by penguin terrorists?

I’d preach hell fire and damnation to those penguins. If anybody doesn’t want it with hell, it’s some penguins.

4. How do you keep a pool of sweat safe to swim in?

Definitely have to manage salt and alcohol levels.

5. Why did you write these poems?

I wrote “Heroine” because I was watching the news and a guy who had just committed some heroic act was being way too humble and I started to imagine how I would act in that situation. “Mother” I wrote because I mothers need love too. We are still women with desires.

6. What would you like to be holding right now?

I’d like to be holding a man who is holding me.