My earliest memories with words go back to the courtyard of an old Spanish house where I sat in a rocking chair, under the shade of trees, with my grandfather. He read to me in the afternoons. I remember reading "Quest for Fire," as well as classics like Moby Dick and the Raven.

You traveled to the US from Spain by yourself at ten years of age. This must have made a deep impression on you. Do you think this has influenced your life, and subsequently your art, and in what ways?

Miami is a bewitching city, it’s been called "the magic city" ever since I can remember. Miami’s landscape is diverse both cultural and physical. The sunken waterfall at "Fairchild Tropical Gardens," has cast a spell on my writing more than once. The place has the mood of another when and where. Some of what I consider my best writing has happened there, sitting on the coral rocks, listening to the whispers of the waterfall.

You are a gifted artist as well as poet. What connection, if any, do you find between your visual art and your poetry?

Thank you. There's one single thread in my poetry and art. It is so obvious I should not even answer the question, but since you are part of the collective object I paint about, write about, and worship, I shall tell you. My artwork and poetry is about the adoration of women. Every woman is a goddess by birthright; they are to be worshiped as givers of life, continuum of the human race, and heavenly wells of bliss. They are the total duality of good and evil, life and death, wrath and tenderness. Inside my own cathedral, I worship them all.

Is your approach to creating visual art similar to your approach to developing a poem?

They both come from inspiration. I believe the muse walks by my side. She is mostly quiet; she tries to let me figure out the inspirations for myself. Being that I am a typical male, I mostly miss the opportunity. She is always kind, whispers in my ear and fills me with inspiration. In my case she is always female, ancient and beautiful. She has spoken to me as Circe, Helen, Athena, Ophelia, and Salome. Sometimes she comes embodied as a modern woman, sometimes as the wind, or the moon. My approach is very similar for both art and poetry. Once I am inspired to write or paint, I do a lot of reading, research, and meditation on the subject. Once the picture begins to take shape in my head it goes down on paper as a rough draft, and develops from there.

Would you say your work as an artist reflects and expresses your response to the times in which you live?

No. It is my biggest drawback. I am founded in the Pre-Raphaelite ideals of beauty and romanticism. That is what I enjoy and live by (Yes, I am a hopeless romantic). I have often found this to be a barrier between the public and myself. I paint and write to release a muse who is very demanding. In the process I have found a few people who can relate to my poetry and purchase my artwork. Those few whom I’ve been able to “connect” with, have developed long lasting relationships as readers, supporters and friends. The one quote that was resonant from my television appearance was “I don’t write or paint for the public, I do it for myself”.

Regardless of the narrowing of the gulf between popular culture and ‘high art’ this century, poetry has remained the domain of those with literary knowledge and tends to be avoided by the average Joe on the street. There are no queues of people rushing out to buy the latest Billy Collins volume. Why do you think this is, and do you see this changing in the future?

Sure, I am one of those not rushing out to get Billy Collins. I guess that makes me an average Joe with no bounds. However, by the sale of his books, it seems to me that Billy Collins touches a large population of readers. I think most of today's poetry is shallow, and meaningless. It does not speak to the public, it does not touch their soul, their emotions, nor does not it bring the majority of people to any realizations or conclusions about their own life. Orpheus was able to touch the heart, most of today’s poets don't.

The future of poetry… the lottery, hmmm, which should I guess first?

You list Jorge Luis Borges as one of your favourite poets. How would you describe his work, and what is it that appeals to you about his writing?

In my opinion, there is no better writer than Borges. His work is deep and dark. His words are a tunnel into the subconscious. I believe this gift was greatly enhanced by the fact that he was blind. For example, in "Browning decides to be a Poet", to the casual reader, the poem describes the obvious Robert Browning deciding to be a poet. To the reader who has read the poem several times, the poem speaks about man's deepest need for the love of a woman.

Which other poets and writers do you enjoy?

Rilke—he is Borges in German and French. Jong, Sappho, Anna Swir, Rae Pater - all female writers John O'Donohue, James Hillman, Ovid, De Sade, Mark Strand.

How much of yourself do you expose in your poems?