Through his work with the Squali Studium Est Optimus Conservation Team, The Klute is trying to save the sharks one stanza at a time.
“My goal is to educate and entertain,” the award-winning slam poet said. “I love sharks but they are kind of taking it on the chin right now so I wanted to tell the sharks’ stories.”
The Arizona-based slam poet was a guest of honor at SharkCon 2017 in Tampa where he unveiled his latest collection of poems, essays, and art, Cap’n Klute’s Ocean Almanac, Vol. 44 #2. All proceeds from his writings, including “Chumming the Waters” and “Words for the Men in Grey Suits” and “An Idiot Playing in Dakuwaqa’s Gardens” benefit shark conservation efforts.
“I was doing poetry for myself and I wasn’t really applying it,” Klute said. “So I decided to take a message of conservation to my audience that was both fun and energetic. I wondered what a shark would say if it had a voice and then I try to be that voice.”
Being based in a land-locked desert isn’t the toughest part about being a voice for the ocean’s apex predator.
“It’s hard to rhyme dwarf lantern shark,” Klute joked.
To learn more, check out his website at theklute.com
