Interview with Carl "Taqwaa" Moore
by G. Ziegel
Editor’s note: Carl “Taqwaa” Moore, author of “Thank You, Whoever You Are” from our Winter Special issue, is a writer who is currently incarcerated. The carceral communication systems make conducting a more formal interview nearly impossible.
After several weeks of correspondence, we were able to achieve both written and phone interviews. Below are Taqwaa’s written answers, followed by our unedited phone conversation1. All pictures are provided by Taqwaa’s wife.
First, I’d like to thank Allah, for my heart, mind, and body, for the ability to have expressed ANYTHING, let alone something that anyone found worthy of sharing. I am humbled to my core.
How did “Thank You, Whoever You Are” come to exist for you?
This piece was an actual suicide note, to begin. I was looking for paper, to let my dad know why I had given up. The drawing was a placemat from a program called Kairos. Children draw them, and I had collected a few of them. This one was my favorite, you could tell they tried really hard. It was gorgeous...
Tell us about your relationship to writing.
I’ve never thought of myself as a poet, so... these questions, I’ve never considered before. I write from a place of deep deep pain, or my love for a thing. My biggest influence in my life would have to be the Quran. Learning the way it was written in Arabic, then translating it in my head into English... I also love language and communication. I’ve studied French and Arabic intensely, even have a French Quran, haha! There are so many ways to express an idea, to say a thing, each of them with their own subtleties... I love writing! Penpals have kept me sane, up to date, educated, and entertained!
Is there a community for writers or artists within your facility?
Prisoner Express, from Durlands Alternatives Library, at Cornell U.
They’ve been inspiring me since 2010. The only reason I wrote these out, in legible form, was to help with a fundraiser. I never felt like my words had ANY value, and I’m still kinda amazed that anyone liked them. I’m humbled and honored.
I’d really like to thank the people who volunteer their time, effort, and money, to help us broken people in prison. Pastor Cliff Krcha, Robert Deming, Robert and Clair McCormack, Imam Omar Shakir, Tayba Foundation... I could list a hundred who have been there. I was lost before y’all, smart and lost, directionless, and ready to snap. A drawing from a three-year-old brought me back. A drawing one of y’all brought to the prison.
There are so many people in here who are intelligent, talented, and caring. They just haven’t been given the time, material, or opportunity to express or explore. Lots of these dudes have been told, and believe that, they are stupid, bad, worthless, or beyond salvation. They are broken, and can be fixed, but most have been thrown away. The same society that decided to “be merciful” and give me a life sentence instead of put me to death has refused to educate me in here. Volunteers helped me. Cared about me, educated me, fed me.
Do you have any hidden talents?
I think my best talent is taking a complex idea, and breaking it down into easily understandable parts. I regularly deliver speeches and host open forums for the Islamic and Interfaith communities, for Compassionate Integrity Training. I love the feeling of knowing that communication has been achieved, the transfer of an idea from one mind to another.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
I’m an artist! I love to draw, watercolor, and tattoo. I love Arabic calligraphy and portraits. Hogarth, Stan Lee, and Lisa Almendarez (hi mom!) are my biggest influences. Chris Williams taught me how to use watercolor in here. and, I’m a chef! I love to feed people. I express my love through food, touch, and words!
Shout out to public radio!!! KSTX, you kept me newsified, edified, laughed up, when I was in a hole with no friends.
Again, I like to thank The Most High. I didn’t work for any of these opportunities, or even know they exist. they were given to me, by You, through people who cared.
Taqwaa requested that we include his contact information for anyone who would like to reach him:
Securus e-messaging
Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Carl Brandon Moore
TDC 01263264
SID 07184666
CARL “TAQWAA” MOORE was stolen from a lab and raised in the forests of Tennessee by gnome ninjas... He was captured in 2003 and has spent the last twenty-two years in prison, tryna get his mind right. His goal is to be the best son, father, brother, husband, and neighbor he can be. He would like to thank Allah, Cliff Krcha, Durlands library, Carl, Yvette, Storm, Lisa, Sylvia, Helen, Lynn, and Kim: “I am who I am, because y’all loved me.”
This recording starts late as we did not know exactly when Taqwaa would be allowed to make the call, and ends early due to the time-limitation imposed on phone conversations by the software.
So psyched to see this today. I’m glad you could connect with Carl