Kyrah Gomes, a talented Marketing major and member of the USF Judy Genshaft Honors
College from Queens, NY, is making a name for herself in the literary world with her
unique voice. Her latest publication, "i saw the rapture and was disappointed," was
featured in Emerge Literary Journal, showcasing Gomes exploratory and sentimental
writing style.
The poem was written as her final project in Honors IDH 3100.006: Writing Resistance,
taught by Professor Dennis Mont'ros, where Gomes received individualized feedback
that helped refine her poetic sensibilities.
“Writing Resistance is designed to foster personal expression and elevate insight
into the power of language,” says Mont’ros. “We study and practice storytelling, read
stories about human struggles, and analyze rhetoric, propaganda, and censorship to
become stronger communicators in our personal and professional lives.”
When asked, Gomes says her poetry writing process is a dynamic blend of freewriting
and “brain dumping.” She feels inspired by poets such as Chen Chen and other contemporary
artists around her age – along with literary greats like Hanif Abdurraqib, Richard
Siken, and Louise Gluck.
Three Things: Kyrah Gomes
- Favorite Honors Course? Acquisition of Knowledge
- Favorite Writer: Too hard to choose ...
- Favorite Fruit? Mango!
Gomes’ talent and passion have earned her recognition in multiple literary journals,
including VIBE, The B'K, LEVITATE, Journal of Erato, USF’s Thread Magazine and more.
“For me, writing is a labor of love,” said Gomes. “It is challenging to pursue a vulnerable,
softer life in a world that can encourage a lot of anger and discontent. Writing doesn't
necessarily "fill a hole" for me, but it does allow me to define its borders and dimensions.”
Her time at the Honors College has been a journey of growth and intellectual exploration,
taking courses outside of her major and even writing her Acquisition of Knowledge
thesis on poetry as a medium for social change.
“I remember Dennis stating that writing poetry is like refracting something through
a prism,” said Gomes. “You can choose to present it in a slightly different light
or render it unrecognizable. Adding on to this idea, every reader becomes a site of
refraction as well. Our personal experiences and views are deeply rooted, and no poem
passes through someone in the same way.”
Kyrah will graduate from USF in May 2025 with plans to pursue a creative marketing
role. Honors community members can follow Kyrah's literary journey through her website:
kyrahgomes.square.site.