Words in the Wild with Gavia Boyden ’26

Peyton Williamson ’27

For this edition of Craft Corner, The Words took a new turn with Words in the Wild, where we’ll be featuring English students doing cool work outside of the English department and Macalester. This time we sat down with Gavia Boyden ’26, who has found a unique way to share her poetry with the world: Instagram. What started as a personal project has become a platform for her to connect with other poets and readers, all while staying true to her artistic vision.

Gavia’s journey into writing poetry began when she was just 10 years old, after she “read and loved Mary Oliver’s poem ‘Wild Geese,’” she shares. Since then, poetry has been a form of expression she can’t leave behind, and it’s clear that her passion for the art runs deep.

Describing her style as precise and metaphor-heavy, Gavia gravitates toward what is unsaid in poetry. “I appreciate leaving things withheld or just beyond reach so that the idea lingers in the reader’s mind,” she says. “I like to draw unusual parallels between ideas, keeping my language choice as sparse as possible.” Her work draws inspiration from poets like her own mother, Jennifer Oakes, as well as from contemporary poets like Terrance Hayes.

While Gavia’s writing had always been a personal endeavor, it wasn’t until recently that she considered sharing it with a broader audience. “I think Instagram is a really accessible platform for something that a lot of people find inaccessible—the poetic,” Gavia explains. “By posting on Instagram, I hope that I’m opening a new door to poetry, bringing the poetic into everyday life.” 

Her intention wasn’t necessarily to reach an existing poetry audience, but rather to share the art form with those who might not otherwise encounter it.Though her Instagram has grown into a space for her poetry, Gavia emphasizes that her writing isn’t influenced by the platform itself. 

“I don’t write with Instagram in mind as the final destination,” she says. “I don’t like the idea of writing differently because my work will have an audience.” That said, she enjoys following other poets on the app and being a part of their creative community. “Almost every day I encounter great language on another poet’s Instagram.”

As for her writing process, Gavia reveals that she thrives in a specific atmosphere. “I write best when I’m listening to really sad music (like Frank Ocean’s Self Control),” she confesses. “Preferably at night. I don’t think it makes me sad, or makes the poems sad, but it does allow me to access a part of my mind that isn’t active when I’m moving fast-paced through my day.” This sense of quiet introspection allows her to tap into the yearning tone that permeates much of her work.

Of course, sharing poetry online comes with its challenges. Gavia admits to receiving occasional messages questioning her work, such as “this didn’t make sense to me” or “are you okay?” These responses don’t discourage her, though. “I can’t really say anything other than ‘okay’ or ‘yes,’” she responds, taking it in stride.

The most rewarding part of her Instagram journey has been personal growth, which marked a turning point in embracing her identity as a poet. “I used to think it was stupid to write poetry,” Gavia shares. “I was scared that my peers would see my work and think I was cringy or weird or bad at writing. I am so happy that I embrace my poet side now instead of thinking of it as something to brush aside or make fun of.”

Looking to the future, Gavia has big plans for her poetry. “My New Year’s resolution was actually to get published more and to publish a short chapbook,” she says. She’s already seen success in that area, having been accepted to The Tower and published in Alchemy Journal and Rattle. 

But for Gavia, the goal isn’t just to have her work seen—it’s about revitalizing a love for poetry in others. “Being published is a goal of mine not because I want people to love my poetry specifically, but because I want people to start caring about poetry in general,” she explains. “In my mind, being published represents a tiny win in the right direction. It’s a chance for people to read a poem and maybe feel something and remember that feeling.”

Many thanks to Gavia for taking the time to share this with us; The Words is excited to see where her poetic journey takes her. Her courage to share her art and her dedication to making poetry more accessible is truly inspiring and we can’t wait to see how her voice continues to grow!