Palisadian Joshua Corwin is ‘Becoming Vulnerable’ in Debut Memoir

By JENNIKA INGRAM | Reporter

Palisadian Joshua Corwin’s journey began with autism, addiction, pain and perseverance. Throughout the twists and turns of life, he also found sobriety, clarity and spirituality that have touched and inspired countless others.

Now 26, Corwin moved to Marquez Knolls with his parents when he was 2 years old. Growing up, he attended Marquez Charter Elementary School followed by Willows Community and New Roads schools.

His father is a lawyer and his mother is a teacher for The Miracle Project nonprofit.

“She’s basically a saint,” Corwin said to the Palisadian-Post.

His memoir poetry collection, “Becoming Vulnerable,” will be released by Baxter Daniels Ink Press/International Word Bank on April 20.

His debut book—and the subsequent praise for it—showcases his entire journey.

“I chose this date because the book also discusses my experience with marijuana addiction,” Corwin shared, alluding to cannabis-oriented celebrations that take place annually on the 20th of April, “in addition to April being not only Autism Awareness Month, but also National Poetry Month.”

Described as a neurodiverse poet, Corwin graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics and a minor in philosophy from Pitzer College in Claremont in 2019—the same year he was nominated for the Pushcart Prize.

“I didn’t even know what that was at the time,” Corwin admitted.

Al-Khemia Poetica, Spectrum Publishing and Placeholder Press have published his work, as well as The Ephimiliar Journal, Art of Autism and Ginosko Literary Journal.

He’s also contributed numerous times to Rattle Poetry’s Rattlecast (a live-stream poetry reading and weekly podcast) and is on the longlist nominated for The Palette Poetry 2020 Spotlight Award.

“Joshua Corwin is an important voice in the autism community,” global leader on neurodiversity Elaine Hall shared with the Palisadian-Post. “He shared honestly, boldly and brilliantly about his personal experiences that are not only for those who are on the spectrum, but embraces our vulnerability as human beings.”

Corwin shared that he never knew his poetry and writing could be useful to the extent that it is and he could be doing this to help others.

And, for the past five years, Corwin has been sober.

“Getting high no longer worked,” he explained. “I remember the moment as clear as day. I envisioned all the different routes my life could take and what route would make my life stay the same, and I chose a different route.”

Corwin penned a poem, “Memory Smile,” about a friend who was not so lucky: Someone he knew—who, like him, had ADHD, processing delay, autism spectrum disorder and was an only child near his age—did not make it and died from an accidental Fentanyl overdose.

One of Corwin’s upcoming projects, which will start on April 22, is to bring The Miracle Project its first-ever poetry class, AutAdd Poets Society. He will be using Zoom to conduct the classes.

The seven-week class, originally intended to meet in-person, planned to give students the opportunity to write in class and to read their works at the end at the Wallis Center for Performing Arts in Beverly Hills. Corwin moved to a virtual class in light of COVID-19.

“We are proud to collaborate with Joshua in a new online poetry class for those on the spectrum who are also challenged with addiction,” Hall, founder of The Miracle Project, shared.

As the pandemic continues, Corwin is conducting meetings and conference calls on Zoom.

He recently launched a new poetry series podcast, “Assiduous Dust,” on January 15. His fifth podcast, which features an interview with American poet S.A. Griffin and John Burroughs, will be available April 4.

Corwin explained that during the pandemic, he wants people to remember that it can be about solitude and not isolation. He sees his life being about growth and service.

He is already busy working on his next two books: “I write every day,” he shared.

In his free time, Corwin believes in meditation and uses that practice regularly. He also plays music: piano and drums.

Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, there were scheduled readings and book signings at Palisades Branch Library, Sideshow Books, Mystic Journey Bookstore, Ocean Park Library and more—some of which will be postponed for a later date.

Corwin is slated to appear at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books on the poetry stage in 2021.

“Becoming Vulnerable” will be available at independent bookstores as well as on Amazon. It is now available for pre-order.

For more information and pre-orders, go to joshuacorwin.com.

An excerpt from “The Update” 

First published in Placeholder Press “Archive” on December 31, 2019.

O, it’s so hard
to fit in
when you’re hardwired
to differ.

Range
like a spectrum of shapes:

I circle,
but I transcend.
But because I do,
I have these fits

{usually every 3 months or so,
sometimes once a year}

It comes from acting
typical
when you’re
atypical.

— did I tell you I had to learn
thousands of idioms?
[I thought …
when someone
said, “it’s raining
cats and dogs,”
That it was.]
— flashcards of rules…

“12:01 AM”

First published in Al-Khemia Poetica on September 3, 2019, and nominated for the 2019 Pushcart Prize.

12:01 AM

I can hear the shine in your eyes
on the other end of the telephone.

When I speak like this,
I feel authentic
and not heavy

I don’t have to tattoo meaning in the air
to know what you mean.

I remember when you first told me…
apropos of nothing…
about the different levels of charitable donation.

I was sitting across from you — over there.
(You in that armchair, me in this one: our eyes.)

You said there’s the donor who gives large sums
and puts a placard on the wall, signifying
who it’s from;

and then there’s the other one who gives…
but remains anonymous.

Your words hanging like a phantom,
I didn’t have to be who I thought I was;

you were once me,
once where I was…

In that moment, I knew.

Poems Joshua Corwin © 2020