Mahogany Book Club Interviews Unknown Silence

Welcome to Mahogany, Unknown Silence.

Peace, Mahogany. Allow me to extend my appreciation for the blessing of showering me with your company.How long have you been writing?

Spiritually, I've been writing forever. I feel that my spirit has always been here staining itself with—and on—the fabric of life; however, I will not delude you and say that I always "capture" my pulsations on parchment, but I do believe that I "write" my poetry on the soul of the universe by the very "living" of who I am. Yet I do know that I have to do a better job of actually writing my currents down on paper. Maybe the important question I should always be asking myself is "Am I writing Now?" After all, now is all that really matters. It's what's alive and breathing. It's what exists. So, on that note, yes, I am writing and I hope to possibly be invited into your now.

Tell us about your name? How did you get the title Unknown Silence?

Unknown Silence is not a title. It's a righteous attribute, reflecting the I AM of who I am. It denotes a state of being, a journey, a finding, an awareness, and an awakening. The fullness of it can't be captured in the limitation of words. But allow me to attempt to quench some of your thirst with a few ice cubes from the tip of my iceberg. The "Unknown" is the realm of pure potentiality where infinite potential of creative expression gestates. When we reawaken to our true SELF we begin to make the unknown known by sublimely showing and proving the various divine facets of our BEING while also bubbling forth with the awareness that we are ONE with that which was, is, and evermore shall be. "Silence" is also pure potentiality. It is the eternal canvas of life awaiting the Master's brush strokes. It is within the silence that one hears one's SELF. In hearing the SELF, one realizes that silence is the true language of God. It is alchemy. Isn't it the silence in between the notes that makes the music...music? The silence in the delivery of poetry that renders it intoxicating? The silence embraced in moments of lovemaking that transports us into the lovemaking? "Unknown Silence" is life living itself. It's all in the simplicity. It simply just IS!

What inspires your writing?

Newborn babies that usher in a newness to a stagnant world. Old priceless people, who've handcrafted a wisdom that sees beyond what the eyes can see. Skin that says "you belong here," trees that breathe themselves into me, the sun that showers the world with drops of light and the moon that says "I love YOU" while looking at herself in the mirror of a still lake. What inspires me? Hmmm...I'm still finding things.

Probably night or at dawn. I like the seductive mystery of night. The hint of revelation present under a glowing moon or a fading sun lying down to sleep. That's when the sky begins to blush its various colors and you can hear nature's secrets being spoken nonverbally. It's the colors, the quiet, the nakedness. It's hard to explain, but I'm sure everybody feels it: nature reaching out to touch you and you just surrendering to soak it all in like the fragrance of sublime sex. It's an ambiance. When I'm drunk with feeling and nature is drinking from my lips and we reflect each other in our atmospheres, then my words come effortlessly and my fingers go into labor...day or night.

Do you perform spoken word?

I would like to think so. But I probably perform more unspoken word than spoken. I say that to convey my opinion that I feel our "living" is the greatest open mike night in existence where the poetry of your YOU is honestly represented. I am my story, as everyone is their own. The way we live and love is the manner in which we "speak" it. Maybe someone will find my story and manner of storytelling fascinating as I may find theirs equally so. Maybe my answer to your question is that I would love to do spoken word for anyone who'd love to hear my borrowed words spoken.

Do you write just poetry or do you write short stories or songs?

I write what I'd like to consider poetry and maybe an article here or there. That's probably because I don't really know the flow of short stories and songs. If I did, I probably would dabble in it. But poetry is my song and it contains my short stories. So I guess that, to me, when I say poetry, I don't see any chains on the wings of that bird. I feel my heart does it all through poetry. Plus, I doubt that you'd like to hear my singing!

Do you have any poems published?

Not really. I've never really sought the light of those avenues with thirst. I do have one featured in an upcoming book, Duplicity, by Oasis so you can check that out as well as his other works. My real poetry thus far has been the lives of the people I've had the pleasure, and the pleasurable displeasure, to touch. They are living works of art and will always reflect that piece of me that was stained on them. But I'm still waiting for the day that my inner poetry will be "published" into this world as a son and/or a daughter. I believe every son and daughter is a published masterpiece. They are the spirit's literary work of art and more.

No disrespect but I think the question you should smack my ego with should be: About how many have I not written down? I'm not the greatest recorder of my thoughts. To put it simply, I bullshit a lot. Most of my poetry is, and has been, unwritten. Maybe I need a scribe like Rumi had in the 13th century. I utter my poetry in solitary moments of intense merging with feeling and they fly forth with wings, into nature's embrace where she drinks them into her beauty with giggles and with the yearning behind enlightened tears. Maybe I have an unconscious rebelliousness (O.K. conscious rebelliousness) of margins, and paper seems to be filled with them. I feel they can serve to suffocate a heart-flute's true range and depth. We're always trying to make things fit and conform. That's not living. That's not allowing. It's like a beautiful parrot or falcon captured and raised in the confines of a bird cage, stuck in a living room for decades as a "family friend"; there she lacks the sky's stain on her feathers, the experience and knowing of flight into the vastness to give depth to his morning song. However, let me say that I do still find naked parchment very inviting...like flesh yearning for fingerprints to discover it. "How many poems have I written?" Not enough, never enough.

Will you be publishing a book of your poems?

I don’t know, I might be looking at something in 2009. If it’s in the plan. Then, so be it. I’m just walking my path and enjoying where it leads.

Do you contribute to any poetry or literary magazines?

I can't say that I do. But my brother Oasis is an author and at times I contribute to some projects he has. I feel that if someone finds something I say worthy to be featured somewhere, then I'm all for it. I don't claim to be a literary juggernaut by far. I'm just someone with an opinion and feelings, nothing fancy.

Do you ever collab with other poets?

Everyone is a poet of their own lives and views. Every time I associate with people in anyway, our "living" is a collaboration. Granted, some better than others! My better collaborations are with my soul-family. Now that is poetry worth listening to: Love! I don't think you meant your question that way, so in that respect, I'll answer no, I haven't. But like friendships and soul partnerships, I look forward to it if it's meant to be. Alicia Keys...Holla (smile)!

Do you have any advice for up-and-coming poets?

Advice is a precarious thing. We should be cautious of our arrogance and humble to life's plan before spilling it out. I should ask, Do any up- and-coming poets have any advice for me? If I had to say something, I'm reminded of Kahlil Gibran's words: "Work is love made visible." Allow your work to be the love of yourself and life made manifest through your pen strokes, your tongue strokes, your YOU. When the world picks up and reads—or sits down to hear—your heart-children, let them feel the texture, taste the seasoning, and experience the magic of your sublime essence. Give what you are and allow that to impregnate...

I have too many to list even a thousand. I love quotes. They invite me into myself and others. I think one of the most powerful ones is "I love you." Simple. But here's a good mantra: I love me and because I love me, I love you. And because I love you, I love us. And because I love us, I love loving. And because I love loving, I simply love. I think I just make, that up. I could list quotes all day; let me give you a few that are on the
tip of my tongue now because, tomorrow, others will take their place: "You are God." "You are that which you are searching for" I think that was Rumi. If not then he implies it everywhere. "Many of the greatest Beings that ever lived were unacceptable to society" —author unknown. "A warrior's ultimate act is to finally lay down his sword" —Jet Li in Hero. "People live on their lips when they cease to be at peace with their thoughts" —Kahlil Gibran. "Beat the drum and let the poets speak" Rumi. "Love is not love that does not love the details of the beloved, the minute particulars" —Coleman Barks in Rumi; the book of love.

My favorite author is one who feels the pulse of life and is able to seduce a piece of it for us to dine on. Truthfully, I have many. I love Rumi, Kahlil Gibran, Paulo Coehlo to name a few. They can keep you drunk for lifetimes. But I'd have to day that maybe my favorite book is the one that's waiting for someone to discover it, to write it, to invite it into the world. Maybe one day I can list various books on my site that have had a transformational effect on me. I guess that means stick around.

Actually, I've finished reading all of Coehlo's books and went back to rereading a handful of books that I've already read. Like a round two. The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo. The Holy May by Susan Trott. The Soul of Rumi by Coleman Barks. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. And, Grandfather by Tom Brown Jr. You can see I have a lot of time on my hands here in prison...no pun intended.

Is there an Author or poet that inspires you that you would love to meet one day?

If they inspire me, then I've already met them in my heart. But on that same note: I'd love to meet anyone who would love to be met. That's an open invitation.

Again, allow me to extend my appreciation for the blessing of showering me with your company.

Peace!

Yeslin “Unknown Silence” Escobar

Unknown Silence is a Poet, Spiritual life coach, and Inspirational Speaker. Raised in a Military family he joined the Army after graduating from Heidelberg High School in Germany. Currently, he roams the sacred corridors of prison passageways.

You can find his poetry and articles on the following networks:

Platinum Book PR Social Media Network

or e-mail him at: insight@platinumbookpr.com