Video poetry is one of my favorite mediums. During a stormy week in Los Angeles in 2023, I put together “there is no why,” poems on disconnection during the digital age. Spiritual belief, physical ailments, mental health, family relationships—how do they survive a distance measured in pixels that feels like miles?

The analog video motif is part of the answer to this question, going back to basics to convey the pain and the urgency of loneliness. I sourced the content from a number of free and paid sources, and combined some of my own mobile videos as well. Among my faves is the end of the opening poem, “To All the Angels in the Room,” where my hand appears to be covered in blood and feathers as the poem demands an angel’s attention. Other pieces go on to examine reverse culture shock in “The Other Woman,” the emotional symptoms of PMDD in “The Devil Knows My Rhythm,” the isolation of a new town in “Moving to New Places,” and the feelings of misrepresentation for those who have a varied racial background in “Crowns on Messy Heads.”

Watch highlights from There is No Why below, and enjoy the full version on YouTube.