Moon Beams #19 - Rosa Castellano

“We know what’s happening, and it's not the change that we want, that’s not what we’re seeing,” poet and educator Rosa Castellano said in our conversation in July, words that I am honored to share now in September, 2025, “and I think that if people could get curious about the responses that they have in their bodies, then maybe they could understand something, whatever that is. And I hate to be so vague, but it’s such a personal thing, like understand what they need to understand in order to make some changes. And that’s why I write poems.” 

The practical service of poetry, both for individuals and communities, was one among many pressing topics Rosa and I covered in our chat in episode #19 of Moon Beams, especially pertaining to trying times. 

“Poetry is a place that we can put things when we’re afraid,” said Rosa, “that gives us solace and comfort, it offers solutions and alternatives, it offers hope in a way that's just like, ‘Hey, everybody!’” she said, giving two thumbs-up with a laugh, “That doesn’t actually quite cut it, and part of that has to do with the way poems are intimate, and they ask for intimacy in return, and when we bring that, then there is the opportunity for curiosity, and I really do believe that without people getting curious, then we can’t change.” 

Rosa’s premiere poetry collection, All Is the Telling by Diode Editions, the timeless poet Ai, our mutual friend Sullivan Summer (who also interviewed Rosa in August), shared fandom of the New Books Network, and much more were a pleasure to explore in this interview, as her artistry, perspectives, curiosity, and hope ring as empowering in a time and place with no shortage of challenges. 

“Sometimes when bad things happen there’s this idea that, that's when people rise to the challenge,” said Rosa, “and I don’t know that that’s true for this moment necessarily, with regards to poets, because we’re always here, we’re always rising to the challenge. But I think people maybe, are looking in our direction a little more.”

I am deeply thankful to Rosa for sharing her perspective, energy, and time with me and everyone who gets to draw from her words at any time, but especially now, and I look forward to seeing what she does next.

Stay curious and kind and be well, everybody.