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Ishle Park
Ishle Park has an unmatched passion for living and for life itself. She has the rare ability to follow her dreams wherever they may take her – never losing sight of where she’s been. She’s faced challenges, risen above them, recognized her true calling and inspired people from all walks of life to do the same. The Poet Laureate of Queens, New York, and a regular on Def Poetry Jam, we’re proud to present Ishle as the newest Element Advocate. She’s performed her poems and songs at colleges in the U.S. and at literary and cultural festivals around the world. She wrote the award-winning book, The Temperature of This Water, and today is working on a music CD co-sponsored by Element. Between getting ready for a seven-month writer’s retreat in New Zealand and a last minute Element photo shoot, Ishle took time to answer questions, offer advice, and share insights on music, inspiration, and poetry.
Where were you born and where did you grow up?
My mom rode the N train nine-months pregnant to give birth to me. I was born in New York and raised in Queens – a Korean American homegirl.
Sum up Queens, NY in 5 words.
Green. Immigrant. Secret. Brutal. Star-filled.
Where's a place you've been that you've had a particular connection to?
My aunt's garden is my sacred space. It's small but peaceful, filled with lavender, chamomile, roses, cosmos, do-ra-jis. My uncle built the wooden sofa under the crabapple tree. I doze on it. Write poems. Sing songs. I like how love and labor can create a paradise out of nothing. It's my own private Eden.
General history about you...what you do and how you got started doing what you do.
Basically, I began as a young girl with big dreams. I'd go to open mic cafes and imagine myself brave enough to take the stage. Eventually, I did, and it snowballed from there. Actually, I'm still a young girl with big dreams. I'm also the Poet Laureate of Queens, New York, and a regular on Def Poetry Jam. I've been lucky enough to perform my poems and songs at colleges in the U.S. and at literary and cultural festivals around the world. I wrote a book, The Temperature of This Water, which won three awards. And this year, I'm working on a music CD co-sponsored by Element.
What are your favorite means of self-expression?
Right now, I love how song transcends language, culture, and time. A good song can stop your breath, make you whirl in circles, burst into laughter, tears or daydreams. And you don't even have to understand the words. True spirit is universal.
Was there a moment you realized you had a special talent? What gave you confidence to continue?
When you’re a young girl, you feel the magic within you. As you get older, your light sometimes dims, or you don't believe in it as much…but my mother, my aunt, and a few teachers helped me, prodded me, urged me along. They truly saved my life.
At one point, I was working a corporate job as a paralegal for a horrible lawyer. I was miserable. But after he left the office, I'd turn on the music and type poems onto floppy discs (ha!). I eventually quit and started working at a non-profit, then volunteer-teaching at an arts organization where I got hired to work full-time. Every time I let go of a security blanket job and ventured more towards a field I loved, the happier and freer I became. Within three years I went from being an underling in the corporate world to a teaching artist. It's amazing! If I can do it, anyone can.
I think the universe rewards you when you follow your true path, and gives you hints along the way that you should continue. Not in the form of money, but more mysteriously. Be open to possibility, and follow your bliss.
Who have been your favorite artists to work with (and what were the projects)?
Denizen Kane, a young Korean American poet, is my spiritual twin and inspiration. He once said, "your life is the palm print of mine.” I feel that. We're touring together this year on The Danger & Beauty Tour.
Who would you like to collaborate with in the future?
I'd like to work with anyone who is passionate about his/her art & has a strong work ethic.
Who is a person you admire?
Thich Nat Hahn, the Buddhist monk, is a real inspiration. My childhood was filled with pain, so I'm trying to learn how to be a whole person now – how to take my sadness and rage and transform it into something beautiful. His books help me on that journey.
You've been described as a storyteller. How is that title relative to your daily life?
I'm a storyteller, torch singer, drama queen, comedian, and a crazy. All of these people tell truths as they see it – they spin stories, release passion, build bridges, call people out, call themselves out. I try to tell stories that reflect the beauty and complexity of Korean American immigrant culture, hip hop culture, woman-girl war stories: all the worlds I encompass. Most importantly, I try to tell my own truths.
What inspires you?
Everyday folks like my parents who struggle to make a living and maintain their humanity inspire me. Strong women inspire me. Artists who ask meaningful questions about life and love inspire me: Bob Marley, Pablo Neruda, Mary J. Blige, Nina Simone, Sonia Sanchez, Yehuda Amichai, Kwame Dawes, Ko Un, Anne Carson, Toni Morrison, Haruki Murakami, and all the nameless Korean kisaeng, minyoh singers, and mudang who came before me…Trees. Wind. Sky. Babies. Rivers. God. And stars - boy-stars, girl-stars, nightstars, and You, under-the-star-you.
What does being Korean American mean to you? How has it shaped who you are?
God, I need a book to answer that. Korea is the only divided country left in the world, so there's a brokenness there that needs healing. I believe it's possible in my lifetime to bring those halves together. My grandfather was born in the north, before it was "the North." It's sad, unhealthy, and crazy, how we see each other as enemies now. I feel a commitment to my ancestors to play a role in reuniting the country. To that end, I'm in partnership with Kyu Lee to form Blue Rabbit Productions. A blue rabbit is the symbol of a unified Korea. In our world, Blue Rabbit is a record label, a girl's clothing line, and an event promotions company. A portion of all our proceeds and time will go towards reunification efforts, domestic violence shelters, and donating food and medical supplies to folks who need it: towards making broken things whole. Our motto is: “One Korea. One Asian America. One Love.”
What's the biggest challenge you've overcome?
Self-hate. It's hard to keep your own light shining in the face of life's overwhelming darkness – but you have to. It's the only true thing you've got. Love the blue flame of your soul. Tend to it, keep it burning.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers to accomplish their dream of becoming "working" writers?
Do what you love like it's a job – work and love hard. If my parents can work 8-hour days for 30 years selling fish to make my life easier, I can definitely work hard for 30 years doing something I love. Also, read what you love, and let one book lead you to another like dominoes ‘til you cover the whole ground, and then read more. And write. Write for joy! Write to ease your pain. Whatever's going on, write it. And treat it like a job. Take a step into the writing world. Go to open mics. Subscribe to writing magazines. Take classes. Every step is a step further on the right path.
With your platform as an Element advocate, what message would you like to share with girls that will read or hear about you?
I once wrote a poem called "ZolaKaiMabelHisaeChiatiCindyFeliz" that's a tribute to my sisters. One line of it says: "gather your split peach/sad honey/ice pick self – Gather your Beauties and believe in them." Believe in your own magic, girl, and cultivate it. Like a wild rose, it will unfurl.
