Rafael Cabaliere: "Poets have bullied me"

It is not true that no one knew the computer engineer Rafael Cabaliere the day that the Espasa (Planeta) publishing house announced that it was awarding him its poetry prize, worth 20,000 euros.

Almost a million followers on social networks have already read those emotional advice that he launches on the network for years.

But in September the publishing industry wanted to join them and wrapped it up in paper under the title

those reflections with tinges of self-help.

Two members of the jury showed their disagreement with the award and a few days after the announcement, the author recorded a video from his home in Caracas to prove its existence and make it clear to the literary world that he was not a bot.

Now that the book is in bookstores, readers can already confirm if what Cabaliere himself clarifies in networks is true, that his "is not poetry."

Question.

If it is not poetry, what is it then?

Reply.

Not everything I share is social media is poetry.

I put that definition for a while, but after the award I eliminated it.

is an inspiring book, to go forward.

I define it as urban poetry.

P.

What is urban poetry?

R.

It is a freer style, that empathizes more with the public.

It can be more popular than traditional poetry.

Rafael Cabaliere is not the first exponent of this genre, nor the last.

Q.

Have you written a book for readers who don't read poetry?

R

.

I thought it for the public that consumes this type of poetry.

I have not appeared overnight, I have been writing on social networks for years.

Perhaps some of the experts against Cabaliere do not share it, but I write in a language that can be understood.

The language of traditional poetry can be difficult to understand depending on how many readings you have.

My poetry is a book for all the public, for all the people and so that they feel happy.

"My poetry is a book for all the public, for all the people and so that they feel happy"

P.

Is your knowledge in social networks decisive?

R.

I have studied the behavior of people in social networks to achieve results, in content and form.

I am an expert in them and they have allowed me to test what thinking is like.

That has contributed to the controversy.

P.

How have you lived it?

R.

I have suffered bullying from the literary world, from poets.

They wrote to my family.

With covid, writers have spent more time in front of the computer and have had more time to find out about any news.

Mine is the third prize and in the previous ones there was not this controversy.

Q.

Is it a book for social networks?

R.

My majority audience is on social networks and I have a large audience, but you always need to go to paper.

It is a necessary experience, because in social networks there are words that I cannot use.

There are words that do not go viral.

Q.

Like which ones?

R.

Now I can't tell you.

But on paper I can extend myself and give it a more literary touch.

"Taking flight" is an inspiring book, to go forward "

Q.

Don't you think you have done more self-help than lyrical?

A.

I wouldn't describe it as self-help, but it does give answers to questions.

That is not easily accomplished.

It helps real, loving, everyday situations.

Issues that have to do with deciphering yourself.

Q.

Can you tell which urban and traditional poets you read?

R.

I usually read a lot of poets, a lot of poetry, but I don't usually share what I read and even less now with all this controversy.

I read traditional poets who have been around for a lifetime, I usually read almost everything.

Q.

Why did you decide that the subject the narrator is addressing was a woman?

A.

Before studying Advertising I did a few years of Pharmacy, in 2011, and there were classrooms of 50 women and two boys.

Those years helped me to know the feminine thought.

In networks I try to give answers to problems and I know that feeling that has to do with the soul.

The majority of my audience, almost 85%, is female.

Q.

But you address them as "the princess", isn't that paternalistic?

A.

It is not paternalistic.

I am followed by a fairly feminist public and they have already let me know that they like it.

I am followed by a fairly feminist public and they have already let me know that they like it "

Q.

But you are giving them advice on how to act.

A.

I don't think the book gives advice.

For me it is poetry, not advice.

I think that reading must have learning.

Some poems are lessons, but there is everything.

There is poetry, it depends on how it is interpreted and how much poetry you have.

Q.

Why do you think that half of the jury did not want to grant you the award?

A.

I think it is completely normal.

Q.

Not really.

A.

They are the rules.

The biggest jury for me is the public.

Q.

Why do you think it was awarded?

R.

Because it is a work that likes.

I have been writing for years to publish my book, to make what I write known.

P.

But it was already known.

A.

Yes.

Q.

What is poetry to you?

R.

It is what you write with feeling. Something that you carry in your heart and soul.