Ask The Author: Masin Persina

Read Masin Persina’s Five Poems here, and then read his responses to six questions below.

1. Where did you get the idea to use pieces of New York Times articles in creating these poems?

The New York Times poems came from my desire to mimic what musical artists, such as Boards of Canada, accomplish, which is to take me to a very specific emotion from the past. As I only have words and not vintage synthesizers, using diction, syntax, phrases and clauses from old New York Times articles seemed like a solution. Then the process took over and it had nothing to do with emotions from the past.

2. What have you made a bet over? What was your wager?

I am more of a dare man than a betting man. Nothing life-shattering is lost in a dare. And mild dares at that, such as, dance out of this restaurant, if you dare.

3. What animal would you line the streets with?

I would line the streets with the least expensive animal money could buy because money is an issue for my city. Probably ants. This would be both revolting and awe-inspiring and perhaps make my city some money.

4. How is a city wicked?

A city is a machine, or so an engineer on NPR told me. Is a machine wicked? If it does more harm than good, it is. Also, Nevada County is shaped like a gun.

5. Who would you sink?

Bob Saget. It’s like, “We get it. You were on Full House but you’re actually raunchy.” But then I’d swim him ashore and tell him no hard feelings.

6. How is the going awful?

Because I am dehydrated. I don’t carry my Nalgene bottle anymore as it apparently is lined with a cancer-causing substance. Soon, I will buy a metal water bottle, but until then, dehydration is slightly healthier alternative.