This episode was so fun to record and edit! We are just two lil delusional peas in a pod! Way initially hit me up back in August to show support and ask for some advice with Substack. Her message made me tear up (I’m emotional, we know this) and I immediately asked if she wanted to feature on Micro Musings! Coming off the high of just recording my first guest, I was itching to do another! Way expressed interest but we agreed to circle back at a later date. Well y’all, it’s that later date! This conversation flowed so naturally, almost like no time passed at all. I’m so proud of Way and her growth and all that she’s accomplished. Okay, I’ll stop being sappy for now. But make sure y’all go check out Way With Words after this episode!
About Way Taylor
Way Taylor is a writer and blogger. Her personal blog touches on topics ranging from God and spiritually, to philosophical questions about the universe, and cultivating healthy relationships. She has a way with words that translates the universal meaning behind grief and love, and transmutes it into light that helps the soul heal.
THE POEM
Letter to the cute boy with the curly hair and tattoos Dear Mr. Tattoo, When you first walked up to me I caught sight of the tattoo on your arm I told you I liked it but now I can’t even remember what it looked like I just remember seeing the ink blot A black stain on your pale skin I couldn’t make out what it was But suddenly I was a little girl who just watched cry baby for the first time and thought that men like Wade Walker With tattoos and leather jackets Loved the most intensely and desperately I imagined our future together The images flew past my eye lids in a moving picture In one We were on the bed and you wrapped your tattooed arms around me Squeezed me so tight the veins almost punctured out of your arms As if you were afraid to let me go As if you wanted me to become one with you I giggled aloud as I shared that thought with you But you somehow squeezed me tighter still Burrowed your nose in my neck Took a deep breath in And as you let it out you said “I am” Damaged boys love the hardest I know it sounds crazy for me to have made up our whole life story in the span of a few seconds and just from looking at a tattoo But what you don’t understand is that as a writer I don’t need a man Just a muse A character that fits into the role I created in the story I made up when I was 7 That night when I went on my walk I sat out a little longer than usual just so I could catch a glimpse of you When I did My heart started trying to climb out of its cage in between my ribs My lungs expanded like air balloons that would take me up the moment you walked over and said hi to me My brain almost ran out of my head with a million scenarios that detailed how our first solo meeting would go Would you ask for my number? If I stared hard enough would you walk over? Would we talk about all our dreams and our deep philosophical opinions in a way that only two strangers bridged together by the hopes of a future together could do? Would my aura, illuminated by the stars, draw you in? Would my skin reflect the darkness and shine in a way that you would describe to your friends as beautiful when they asked about me? None of this actually happened of course Neither of us walked towards one another I ended my night trying not to think about how my delusion disappointed me once again And why I still believed that in order to be loved in the way that I deserved I had to create a victim that needed me Out of someone I don’t even know
THE INTERVIEW
Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you first got into writing poetry?
Do you remember the first poem you ever wrote? What inspired it?
Was there a particular moment or experience that made you realize poetry was for you?
What inspires you most when writing poetry? Are there specific experiences, emotions, or even other poets that influence your work?
How do you handle writer’s block, if you ever experience it?
How do you balance the desire to be authentic in your work with the vulnerability that comes with sharing personal experiences?
Do you have any tips that helped you grow as a writer?
THE PROMPTS
Write about a brief encounter with a stranger that leaves a lasting impression. Explore the ways your mind fills in the details, creating a whole backstory or future from a single moment.
Write a love letter to someone you’ve never met, detailing the imagined moments, conversations, and shared secrets you would experience together.
Reflect on the idea of needing a muse rather than a partner. Do you relate to the concept of finding inspiration in people more than companionship?
Describe an imaginary love story based on someone you barely know. What is it about them that inspires these intense feelings, and how does your mind create a world from such limited information?
Journal about a time you felt disappointed by your own imagination or expectations. How did this realization change your perspective on love or inspiration?
As always, take what resonates and leave what doesn’t!
With love, always
Natasha K
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