Poetry as Protest

I am Riley.

they/them

I am a multi-disciplinary artist, genre-bending writer, and community connector. My written works span across poetry and non-fiction, and I am a Pushcart Prize nominee in fiction. I earned my BA in Creative Writing, graduating cum laude from Stephen F. Austin University, and recently graduated from The New School’s Social Research program with an MFA — the first Master’s degree in my family.

Stories have been my sanctuary since my childhood in Houston, Texas. Before school started in the morning, I would go to the library and organize the books according to the Dewey Decimal System. Each morning I would put all the returned books away then read and read as much as I could before the bell rang. From Jane Goodall's experiences with Chimpanzees to guides on how to play baseball, I devoured every book I could get my hands on. As with many young artists, Shel Silverstein’s work, right there in the 810s, sparked my love for poetry.

But my path was not straightforward. Diagnosed with autism later in life and navigating my identity as a trans, non-binary, gender-nonconforming person, I faced systemic and personal challenges that shaped who I am today.

Sports once defined me, and I relied on them to survive a tumultuous home environment and the pain of being outed as queer at twelve. After playing sports at the collegiate level, I retired from athletics and grappled with the question: Who am I if not an athlete? I began working with dogs and returned to the books I so loved as a child. Writing became my compass, my way to reclaim my identity and connect with the world.

Before moving out of Texas for the first time, my childhood best friend was killed. The potency of my pain, partnered with the pandemic, pushed me into isolation. I knew I had to do something different if I wanted to feel different. In 2021, I found myself in New Orleans where my passion was reignited.

I taught creative writing to young people through Upturn Arts and served on their Board of Directors focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion. I was reminded of what it meant to grow up with limited resources, and I committed to showing young people they can survive and even thrive.

On Mardi Gras in 2023, I marched with the city to the Mississippi River for the Saint Anne's parade. We each carried an offering to the bank of the river. I burned a tissue from my friend’s funeral and let it float to embers over the water. So many strangers felt familiar all of a sudden, as we held each other in our grief, tears streaming down our painted faces. This was a moment of shared grief that reminded me of the profound power of community.

Now, based in New York City, I focus on community-driven projects while continuing to explore the intersections of identity, grief, and resilience in my work. I worked for the ASPCA where I impacted thousands of animals’ lives while pursuing my creative practice. I am currently focusing on my debut book, a genre-blending story about a neurodivergent, non-binary person from the South, reckoning with generational trauma, complex grief, and intersectionality.

My journey — from inner-city Houston to academia, from competitive sports to creative writing, from isolation to community — informs my art. My life has been a constant search for joy. When you experience suffering, something deeper than just a pain, you search for the beauty in the world around you. You look for ways to cope. Ways to find hope.

Poetry is more than just written words or slams; it’s life in motion. It’s a way to say: I was here and I meant something to someone. I strive to create work that is honest, bold, and intersectional, reflecting the complexities of life, identity, and survival.

If you resonate with my story, I invite you to explore my writing, connect with me, or follow along as I continue this journey of creating, connecting, and thriving.