My name is Blake Leitch and I am a poet. I was born in Auckland, New Zealand in 1991 and have lived here my entire life. I am near-completely physically disabled due to a genetic defect titled Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type II, resulting in a fair amount of existentialism.

I began writing in the summer of 2005 when I wrote the lyrics of my first song (although I recently found a poem I wrote at the age of 5, I’m not sure it counts…). I began writing opinionated pieces for the former Satellite Magazine in 2009 and 2010. I began writing publicist pieces for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 2011 and 2012. I began writing journalistic articles for a number of outlets beginning in 2012. I began writing poetry in 2012.

I have continued to write and experiment with words in song, prose, and – mostly – poetry. I continue to write for a number of outlets as well as my own creative projects. I have been a guest lecturer for multiple universities, have been interviewed for numerous media stories, and had a documentary made about my life in 2012.

Poetry, though, is my focus of passion now. Although I have written many poems, it is still something of which I remain in the honeymoon phase with. However, I see this honeymoon phase remaining for a long, long time.

If you would like to leave a response to a poem, I would love to hear your thoughts and opinions, whether it be on the poetry or the message. If you’d like to contact me for any other reason, please contact me.

I look forward to taking this journey with you.

Blake Leitch