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~ March 2026 HP Poet: Peter Gerstenmaier Age: 32 Country: Deutschland (but currently living in Switzerland due to work reasons) Question 1: We warmly welcome you to the HP Spotlight, Peter. Please tell us about your background? Peter Gerstenmaier: "I come from a dysfunctional, broken family. Which led me to endure all kinds of emotional and physical abuse until the age of sixteen, when I ran away from the hellhole I used to call home. Thankfully I have an aunt in Berlin that was my guardian angel. She kept me safe through those tough times and supported me while I was in college. I wouldn’t be writing this right now if it wasn’t for her. I graduated in business school and have been a tax auditor for most of my professional life. I currently work with international trade and taxes. My job pays the bills but it’s quite uninteresting, if I’m to be honest. So, I stay motivated through hobbies, such as writing, playing guitar and hiking. I’m married for four years now, and my wife is probably the kindest creature I’ve ever met. The kind of gentle soul a world such as ours doesn’t really deserve. I dream of living close to the mountains. On a small, cozy chalet on the foot of the alps. Oh, and I have two dogs, Gretchen and Ellie. My little adventure companions." Question 2: How long have you been writing poetry, and for how long have you been a member of Hello Poetry? Peter Gerstenmaier: "I’ve been writing poetry since I was in high school. It was a troubled time and writing helped me to escape for a little while. A friend of mine introduced me to Hello Poetry in 2018. I first had an account here in 2018-2019, but unfortunately, I deleted it during a nervous breakdown. My current account dates from 2024." Question 3: What inspires you? (In other words, how does poetry happen for you). Peter Gerstenmaier: "Poetry is everywhere. And just like life itself, it’s not something that can be forced to happen. The Muse must kiss you first. Therefore, inspiration comes in many forms… a memory, a dream, a regret, a song. Most of the time, I’m having a road trip, I’m on a train, or having a conversation, and an idea, that first verse comes to mind. That’s when I know I must write. I really do admire long, epic poetry, with fancy words and clever rhymes. But that just doesn’t work for me. My poetry is simple. Or how I like to call it, peasant poetry. I write in the most honest way I can. And if it feels real, I’m glad about my work." Question 4: What does poetry mean to you? Peter Gerstenmaier: "At first, poetry was an escape valve, my happy place away from real life. Nowadays, poetry has shifted into a way of expressing myself about matters close to my heart. Anxiety, depression, fear of failure, trauma, regrets, people I loved, my hopes and dreams… all without any fear of judgement. I do think that poetry should be for everyone. And when I see the amazing community we have here at Hello Poetry, I believe that poetry can make the world a better place." Question 5: Who are your favorite poets? Peter Gerstenmaier: "Neruda, Wordsworth, Goethe… though I’ve never aimed for their style. I’d say I end up writing closer to a Rupi Kaur freestyle flow. With obvious themes and cultural differences, of course. I also love the poetry in many songwriters, such as Bob Dylan and Morrissey. Also, I really admire the work of dozens of poets around Hello Poetry. I won’t say specific names, for I’d surely be unfair and leave amazing writers out of it. But if I consistently interact with your work, please do know that your poetry is very meaningful to me." Question 6: What other interests do you have? Peter Gerstenmaier: "Other than writing, I enjoy listening to music, playing guitar, watching classical ballet, and doing jiu-jitsu (just got my black belt after fifteen years). But my heart is probably the happiest while cooking (my wife’s Italian and I have love affair with Italian cuisine, such as homemade pasta and pizza), travelling somewhere new, taking a road trip without clear destination, or a long hike amidst nature." Carlo C. Gomez: “We would like to thank you Peter, we really appreciate you giving us the opportunity to get to know the person behind the poet! It is our pleasure to include you in what looks to be a continuing Spotlight series as Hello Poetry carries on!” Peter Gerstenmaier: "I'm the one to thank you! I never thought I could actually be there 💛🍀" Thank you everyone here at HP for taking the time to read this. We hope you enjoyed coming to know Peter better. We most certainly did. It is our wish that these spotlights are helping everyone to further discover and appreciate their fellow poets. – Carlo C. Gomez We will post Spotlight #38 in April! ~
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Mar 2
Mar 2, 2026 at 3:48 PM UTC
HP Writers Spotlight: Peter Gerstenmaier
~ March 2026 HP Poet: Peter Gerstenmaier Age: 32 Country: Deutschland (but currently living in Switzerland due to work reasons) Question 1: We warmly welcome you to the HP Spotlight, Peter. Please tell us about your background? Peter Gerstenmaier: "I come from a dysfunctional, broken family. Which led me to endure all kinds of emotional and physical abuse until the age of sixteen, when I ran away from the hellhole I used to call home. Thankfully I have an aunt in Berlin that was my guardian angel. She kept me safe through those tough times and supported me while I was in college. I wouldn’t be writing this right now if it wasn’t for her. I graduated in business school and have been a tax auditor for most of my professional life. I currently work with international trade and taxes. My job pays the bills but it’s quite uninteresting, if I’m to be honest. So, I stay motivated through hobbies, such as writing, playing guitar and hiking. I’m married for four years now, and my wife is probably the kindest creature I’ve ever met. The kind of gentle soul a world such as ours doesn’t really deserve. I dream of living close to the mountains. On a small, cozy chalet on the foot of the alps. Oh, and I have two dogs, Gretchen and Ellie. My little adventure companions." Question 2: How long have you been writing poetry, and for how long have you been a member of Hello Poetry? Peter Gerstenmaier: "I’ve been writing poetry since I was in high school. It was a troubled time and writing helped me to escape for a little while. A friend of mine introduced me to Hello Poetry in 2018. I first had an account here in 2018-2019, but unfortunately, I deleted it during a nervous breakdown. My current account dates from 2024." Question 3: What inspires you? (In other words, how does poetry happen for you). Peter Gerstenmaier: "Poetry is everywhere. And just like life itself, it’s not something that can be forced to happen. The Muse must kiss you first. Therefore, inspiration comes in many forms… a memory, a dream, a regret, a song. Most of the time, I’m having a road trip, I’m on a train, or having a conversation, and an idea, that first verse comes to mind. That’s when I know I must write. I really do admire long, epic poetry, with fancy words and clever rhymes. But that just doesn’t work for me. My poetry is simple. Or how I like to call it, peasant poetry. I write in the most honest way I can. And if it feels real, I’m glad about my work." Question 4: What does poetry mean to you? Peter Gerstenmaier: "At first, poetry was an escape valve, my happy place away from real life. Nowadays, poetry has shifted into a way of expressing myself about matters close to my heart. Anxiety, depression, fear of failure, trauma, regrets, people I loved, my hopes and dreams… all without any fear of judgement. I do think that poetry should be for everyone. And when I see the amazing community we have here at Hello Poetry, I believe that poetry can make the world a better place." Question 5: Who are your favorite poets? Peter Gerstenmaier: "Neruda, Wordsworth, Goethe… though I’ve never aimed for their style. I’d say I end up writing closer to a Rupi Kaur freestyle flow. With obvious themes and cultural differences, of course. I also love the poetry in many songwriters, such as Bob Dylan and Morrissey. Also, I really admire the work of dozens of poets around Hello Poetry. I won’t say specific names, for I’d surely be unfair and leave amazing writers out of it. But if I consistently interact with your work, please do know that your poetry is very meaningful to me." Question 6: What other interests do you have? Peter Gerstenmaier: "Other than writing, I enjoy listening to music, playing guitar, watching classical ballet, and doing jiu-jitsu (just got my black belt after fifteen years). But my heart is probably the happiest while cooking (my wife’s Italian and I have love affair with Italian cuisine, such as homemade pasta and pizza), travelling somewhere new, taking a road trip without clear destination, or a long hike amidst nature." Carlo C. Gomez: “We would like to thank you Peter, we really appreciate you giving us the opportunity to get to know the person behind the poet! It is our pleasure to include you in what looks to be a continuing Spotlight series as Hello Poetry carries on!” Peter Gerstenmaier: "I'm the one to thank you! I never thought I could actually be there 💛🍀" Thank you everyone here at HP for taking the time to read this. We hope you enjoyed coming to know Peter better. We most certainly did. It is our wish that these spotlights are helping everyone to further discover and appreciate their fellow poets. – Carlo C. Gomez We will post Spotlight #38 in April! ~
Below are a few of Peter's most favorite poems and links to each one: Time: https://hellopoetry.com/poems/5239360/time Backwards: https://hellopoetry.com/poems/5204511/backwards Cigarette: https://hellopoetry.com/poems/5131326/cigarette Strangers: https://hellopoetry.com/poems/5028412/strangers North Country: https://hellopoetry.com/poems/4985464/north-country
#hellopoetry#spotlight#series#interview#2026#poet#peter#gerstenmaier
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The Exclusion Zone
Mar 2
Mar 2, 2026 at 3:48 PM UTC
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