Phases of Poetry – An Interview with Artem Del of Graveyard Verses about Island and Inspiration
Two Books in Reverse Phases
In a series of island artist highlights, today Visit St. Maarten / St. Martin interviews Artem Del. Artem Del is a poet, spoken word artist, and photographer. She has been writing since the age of 12 and uses poetry as a tool for self-discovery and healing. Since August 2024, she has led workshops as Graveyard Verses — aiming to make poetry feel like an approachable art that anyone can do while tackling common misconceptions. Her goal is to let people know that “Anyone Can Write.”
She recently released two books: 404: Human Not Found and Through Phases. But poetry is, by far, not all she does. “I love exploring my creativity through different art forms. I have made jewelry, created collage art, painted, drawn, done graphic design, etc. At the moment, I sing and perform in shows with a marvelous group under Ms. Clara Reyes.”
It has been a productive period for the multifaceted artist. “I currently have two e-books out on Kobo. The first one I published is 404: Human Not Found. It’s about going through life feeling different — as if you’re an ‘alien’ — trying to fit in with others, but eventually learning to love yourself as you are and embracing your full self. The second one published, Through Phases, is actually the first one I wrote. I wrote it during a Poetry Marathon where poets around the world challenged themselves to write a poem every hour for 24 hours. This book is about growing up and learning to choose happiness despite experiencing trauma. In this book, I’ve also included my collage art and some photography to pair with the poems.”
What makes her so productive is the ability to create whenever she wants and the joy of teaching poetry to others: “I love watching them become comfortable enough to create and express themselves.” In her case, the drive for the art form came from within: “I started writing poetry as a way to help me deal with my trauma and find my voice. I started the St. Maarten Poetry Club as a way to help others do the same. Not only is poetry a fun activity — especially when we mix it with different art forms such as blackout poetry or collage poetry — it’s an amazing way to work through your emotions and thoughts.”
Witnessing how people react to her poetry remains engraved in her memory. “I once performed for the Teen Times talent show and had the same poem published in the Teen Times newspaper. Years later, someone showed me a cutout of my poem on their door and told me that they read it almost every day because it gives them strength to be themselves. It made me emotional, and it made me realize that I should take being a poet seriously.”
Muses of Inspiration
She draws much of her energy and inspiration from the island surroundings, its people, and the projects they lead. That begins with people who are well-versed in and supportive of her art forms, as well as those of others. “My role model is Clara Reyes because she’s such a cultural icon. She’s a mother figure I look up to because she has helped me develop so much as an artist and a person. House of Lemonade provides energy through the great cultural projects and activities hosted by Jorien Wuite — not to mention the lemonade-themed decor that makes the place vibrant and homey.”
“Kyro and Benjamin Bell: Benjamin Bell is a multidisciplinary artist with skills including singing, songwriting, voice acting, acting, vocal coaching, and music production. He is determined to raise the quality of gospel music on St. Maarten by releasing passionate music of his own and coaching aspiring artists into greatness. Kyro is a multidisciplinary, expressive, abstract surrealist line artist inspired by the surrounding land and seas — relating the self to nature, flowing through the motions, and creating from the unknown. My purpose for creation, as with poetry, is simply to express oneself and let the art be interpreted by the viewer, allowing many perspectives to shine through in one piece.”
She can be found listening to music every weekend. “At Mary’s Boon, every Sunday (Sunday Funday), I get to witness the marvelous DJ Sigma Defence play exciting music accompanied by the phenomenal drumming of Snow Storm. It’s a fun time at the beach with great food, too.”
Yet there is even more out there: “St. Maarten is filled with amazingly talented artists who deserve great recognition and fair compensation for their arts and crafts. A wonderful place to meet them is the St. Martin Book Fair by House of Nehesi, which allows you to meet both established and emerging authors and participate in amazing workshops.”
Island Inspiration
According to Del, the people of the island remain its greatest strength. The old adage “The Friendly Island” still holds true in her opinion: “The friendliness, the way we care for each other and for others.”
Apart from its people and music, does the island itself provide energy for poetry? “Yes. St. Maarten is a beautiful place with incredible nature and natural sites.”
There are also historical sites that inspire, sometimes flying under the radar for visitors. “The Great Salt Pond, in the most roundabout way of connecting history to the present, is the reason many of us can earn a living today. With the replacement of the salt trade by the tourism trade, we became an attractive destination overall as shipping routes simply became cruising routes.”
Apart from Mary’s Boon, where does Artem go to relax? Mullet Bay Beach is a favorite because of its clear water. She adds, “Beaches in general: the sound of the waves crashing on the shore is so harmonious, it relaxes the soul.” Grand Case Beach Club‘s two beaches come highly recommended as well.
On the way back after sunset, you might find her at Little Jerusalem in Simpson Bay: “I love the food there, and the place is cozy.”
She also has favorites “over the hill” to recommend: “I absolutely love the peanut butter and banana smoothie from Secret Garden on the Boardwalk. For shopping: Sieben Bath & Beauty, because every product is homemade and every scent is remarkable.” Lastly, she finds high-speed inspiration at Rainforest Adventures in nearby Cul-de-Sac: “Doing the zipline — just for the thrill.”
Is that all people need to know about Artem? She also has an active, athletic side: “I used to love skateboarding, and I would love to get back into it one day.”
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