About Me — Julieta Miquelarena
DPW POETRY
Hello there! I'm Julieta Miquelarena, an artist rooted in the serene and charming landscapes of Tandil, Argentina, nurtured by the warm, close-knit community of Rauch, where I grew up.
Now, for those curious minds: What did growing up in Rauch look like, and how did it shape my journey to where I am today?
My early life was intertwined with the rhythms of nature and books — From riding bicycles to school to galloping on horseback across vast fields, my childhood was a canvas of freedom and exploration. Weekends meant big family meetings along the table where we enjoyed — in my opinion — the best meals while we all exchanged stories between chuckles, hugs and numerous happy discussions.
These idyllic days brimmed with playful adventures alongside my brother. Whether we were collecting eggs on our farm, scouring the woods for the ideal spot for an imaginary treehouse, or engaging in the innocent mischief of childhood games — like the times he chased me with a snake in hand — these moments enriched our daily lives.
Beyond our escapades, we delved into make-believe play, running a "bookstore," selling clothes, or tutoring younger students and classmates — a prelude to my later little venture. Assisting our parents with day-to-day chores was not a burden but a cherished part of growing up in the countryside. These simple yet profound experiences laid the foundation for my values and shaped the lens through which I view the world today, now treasured even more as an adult.
My mother instilled a love for reading by discouraging excessive television watching and simply not having one in my room. I discovered my passion for writing after reading "La Primera Detective de Botswana" by Alexander McCall Smith, which allowed me to find my voice and express my imagination through short stories and poetry.
Each night, as I turned the pages of novels by Agatha Christie and Stephen King, I travelled to fantastical and thrilling worlds that made me envision how I would like to live my own. Influential works like "Alice in Wonderland" and "The Chronicles of Narnia" opened paths to new dimensions. At the same time, classics by Homer, Shakespeare, Kafka, Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Olive Wilde, Emily Dickinson, John Keats, and Rumi expanded my understanding of human complexity and familiarity with literature, revealing my passion for reaching a higher level of consciousness through self-reflection.
The rich tapestry of Latin American literature, spanning from Mario Benedetti's beautifully crafted love verses to Gabriel García Marquez's exquisite realism, ravel seamlessly with Umberto Eco's complex exploration of semiotics and essays. Within this literary landscape, I found appreciation for simplicity through metaphors in Paulo Coelho's works, alongside the lessons woven into Maria Elena Walsh's verses and the originality exemplified by Federico García Lorca.
Furthermore, the introspective and thrilling depths of Virginia Woolf's stories, the narrative ingenuity of Murakami, and the existential musings and magnetic labyrinthic universes of Borges resonated with me deeply, mirroring not only my favourite writer but also my essence and the decision to develop my inner writer.
In addition to these luminaries, I deeply revere Kafka's surrealism, Hemingway's unapologetic frankness, Fitzgerald's dazzling prose, the raw emotional depth of Alice Munro, and the symbolic richness of Joyce Carol Oates. Alongside these influences, invigorating voices such as Ada Limón, Anthony Anaxagorou, Caroline Bird, Louise Glück, Mary Oliver, Victoria Redel, Shuri Kido, and Yusef Komunyakaa, among others, enrich the mosaic of my inspiration. Each of these authors, with their unique nuances and perspectives, continues to fuel my poetic manifestations, blending smoothly with the foundational rhythms of my soul. Through writing, I navigate the world's complexities and cultivate clarity amidst its frenetic pace.
My journey toward becoming a professional artist began at ten in Buenos Aires. Soon after I first examined the stage, performing Shakespeare and Homer in intimate theatre settings, I ventured into the casting world. I sent out audio cassettes with recorded songs and photos snapped by a local photographer, leveraging the limited communication tools of mail and telephone lines to capture the attention of the bustling "fury city," Buenos Aires. Gradually, I broadened my scope to include TV commercials, music videos, and modelling projects. Each role, whether on stage or behind the camera, served as a crucial stepping stone in honing my storytelling skills and forging experiences that surpassed the grand ambitions I had set for myself.
As "this" countryside girl moved to Buenos Aires after finishing high school to pursue a degree in Social Communication, my modelling career blessed me with my first flight to travel later across the cultural tapestries of Africa, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malta, Mexico, Peru, Spain, Switzerland, the United States, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and Uruguay. These travels helped me realize that my once "utopic" aspirations had become a reality. I have travelled worldwide, built resilience, and deepened my understanding of foreign cultures and languages, fulfilling my most cherished childhood dreams. Along the way, I paused my studies, which I would return to years later, in journalism.
Each city I visited infused my narrative with new perspectives and inspirations from my experiences. In London, I write under the pseudonym "DPW (Deeply Poetic World)," crafting verses that delve deeper into the ongoing pursuit of consciousness and understanding about human beings, our emotions, and existential inquiries into our existence. Through my writing, I explore how we can continuously shape ourselves.
Through my debut poetry collection and series of reflective short stories, I strive to inspire others through my creative inflexions and poetic dialogues. These works represent my explorations and showcase my yearning to connect with others through shared or new experiences and emotions.
DPW serves as a sanctuary where words bridge hearts and minds, encouraging you to navigate the deepest waters of your beliefs and feelings. Each penned line aims to guide us through the intricate mazes of existence, propelled by a spirit of observation, introspection and wonder.
It is more than just a collection of poems; it's a philosophical journey — an invitation to pause amidst the rush, to reflect deeply, dream boldly, and engage profoundly with ourselves and the world around us.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this far!
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Follow and connect with me at @DPWPOETRY or @julietamiquelarena elsewhere.
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