EPISODE · Dec 22, 2023 · 55 MIN
Ep. 33: Matt Sedillo: City on the Second Floor
from Page One Podcast · host Matt Sedillo, Holly Lynn Payne
Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.About the guest author:MATT SEDILLO, the first poet on the Page One Podcast, is being hailed by historians and journalists as the "best political poet in America." He has written two collections of poetry, CITY ON THE SECOND FLOOR and MOWING LEAVES OF GRASS, which are currently being taught in several California colleges. Matt Sedillo has also been described as "the poet laureate of the struggle" by academics, poets, and journalists. He has appeared on CSPAN and has been featured in the Los Angeles Times and other publications, in addition to traveling the world to speak at major conferences, forums, and universities including Cambridge. His Three Act Poem structure has been taught at UCLA and Occidental College. Sedillo is currently the Literary Director of the Mexican Cultural Institute of Los Angeles, where he leads weekly writing workshops. He is currently at work on a book-length poem “Elon Musk Must Be Stopped.” He lives in Los Angeles.He has given us permission to share his poem “PILGRIM”Pilgrim by Matt SedilloSee, some were born to summer homesAnd palatial grovesWhere pain was only to ever unfoldFrom the pages of Secret GardensWhere the Red Fern GrowsBut not ISee, I come from the stockOf starry-eyed astronautsWho greet the night skyWith big dreams and wide eyesAlways RunningDown the Devil’s HighwayThrough Occupied AmericaOn the way back toThe House on Mango StreetAnd all those other booksYou didn’t want us to readRaised on handballOff the back wallOf a panaderiaBornEast the riverPost Mendez vs WestminsterOne generation removedFrom the redlinesAnd diplomas signedThat those dreamsIn that skinNeed not applySee, I come from struggleAnd if my story offends youThat is only ‘cause you made the mistake of seeking your reflectionIn my self-portraitSee, thisWell this may not be about youBecause while some were bornTo the common coreWhose reflected facesGraced the pagesOf doctrines to discover And ages to be explored Where old world hardships Crashed against new shores New EnglandNew HampshireNew JerseyNew YorkFor others pushed offTurtle IslandAztlanDo not call this brown skinImmigrantChild of the sunSon of the conquestMexicano bloodRunning through the veinsOf the eastside of Los AngelesDo not tell himIn what native tongueHis song would best be sungDo not tell meWho I am‘Cause I was raised just like youMiseducated in some of thoseVery same schoolsOff lessons and legendsOf honest injuns and Christian pilgrimsAnd a nation of immigrantsAll united in freedomThat is until they pulled asideMy white friendPointed directly at meAnd said ScottI judge you by the company you keepAnd you spend your time with thisAnd that’s the same old story since 1846The adventures of Uncle SamThe stick-up manHey wetbackShow me your papersNow give me your laborThe Melting PotWas never meant for the handsThat clean itThe American dreamHas always come at the expenseOf those who tucked it inAnd you don’t know that ‘Cause you don’t teach itCould write you a bookBut you won’t read itSo you know whatThis is about youAnd 1492And the Treaty of GuadalupeCalifornia MissionsAnd Arizona schoolsAnd these racistsThat try to erase usAs we raise their kidsIn cities that bear our namesBut you’re going to learnSomething today‘Cause from FerdinandTo minutemanFrom ArpaioTo AlamoFrom Popol VuhTo Yo Soy JoaquinTo the Indian that still lives in meFrom Mexico 68To the missing 43They tried to bury usThey didn’t know we were seedsFrom Cananea mineTo Delano strike From the Plan De AyalaEmiliano ZapataJoaquin MurrietaLas AdelitasBrown BeretsAnd ZapatistasFrom Richard NixonTo the Third NapoleonFrom PeckinpahTo HoustonFrom Lone Star RepublicTo Christopher ColumbusAll the way downTo Donald f—g TrumpWe didn’t cross the bordersThe borders crossed usWho you calling immigrantPilgrim? About the host:Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent. You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. Hear past episodes.If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! Happy holidays! Be well and keep reading!In service with love,~Holly~ Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast! I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. Tell your friends. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.For the love of books and writers,Holly Lynn Payne@hollylynnpaynehost, author, writing coachwww.hollylynnpayne.com
What this episode covers
In Episode 33, we interview Matt Sedillo, hailed as the best political poet in America. Sedillo shares his unique approach to poetry writing, and gives insights into his personal journey and the rich storytelling traditions that have influenced his work. He also shares a sneak peek into his next project 'Elon Musk Must Be Stopped' and reads from his works 'City on the Second Floor' and 'Mowing Leaves of Grass', demonstrating first hand the three-act structure that is central to his writing style and unique to poets who rarely discuss deliberate design. Hearing Matt perform his poetry is one of the many delights in this episode about a kid who dreamed of becoming President but instead becomes a poet who is unfettered in speaking his truth about the current political landscape. Enjoy this genius at work. His brilliance is breathtaking. He reads from his poem PILGRIM and gave us permission to post it in the episode notes. Pilgrim by Matt Sedillo See, some were born to summer homes And palatial groves Where pain was only to ever unfold From the pages of Secret Gardens Where the Red Fern Grows But not I See, I come from the stock Of starry-eyed astronauts Who greet the night sky With big dreams and wide eyes Always Running Down the Devil’s Highway Through Occupied America On the way back to The House on Mango Street And all those other books You didn’t want us to read Raised on handball Off the back wall Of a panaderia Born East the river Post Mendez vs Westminster One generation removed From the redlines And diplomas signed That those dreams In that skin Need not apply See, I come from struggle And if my story offends you That is only ‘cause you made the mistake of seeking your reflection In my self-portrait See, this Well this may not be about you Because while some were born To the common core Whose reflected faces Graced the pages Of doctrines to discover And ages to be explored Where old world hardships Crashed against new shores New England New Hampshire New Jersey New York For others pushed off Turtle Island Aztlan Do not call this brown skin Immigrant Child of the sun Son of the conquest Mexicano blood Running through the veins Of the eastside of Los Angeles Do not tell him In what native tongue His song would best be sung Do not tell me Who I am ‘Cause I was raised just like you Miseducated in some of those Very same schools Off lessons and legends Of honest injuns and Christian pilgrims And a nation of immigrants All united in freedom That is until they pulled aside My white friend Pointed directly at me And said Scott I judge you by the company you keep And you spend your time with this And that’s the same old story since 1846 The adventures of Uncle Sam The stick-up man Hey wetback Show me your papers Now give me your labor The Melting Pot Was never meant for the hands That clean it The American dream Has always come at the expense Of those who tucked it in And you don’t know that ‘Cause you don’t teach it Could write you a book But you won’t read it So you know what This is about you And 1492 And the Treaty of Guadalupe California Missions And Arizona schools And these racists That try to erase us As we raise their kids In cities that bear our names But you’re going to learn Something today ‘Cause from Ferdinand To minuteman From Arpaio To Alamo From Popol Vuh To Yo Soy Joaquin To the Indian that still lives in me From Mexico 68 To the missing 43 They tried to bury us They didn’t know we were seeds From Cananea mine To Delano strike From the Plan De Ayala Emiliano Zapata Joaquin Murrieta Las Adelitas Brown Berets And Zapatistas From Richard Nixon To the Third Napoleon From Peckinpah To Houston From Lone Star Republic To Christopher Columbus All the way down To Donald f—g Trump We didn’t cross the borders The borders crossed us Who you calling immigrant Pilgrim?
NOW PLAYING
Ep. 33: Matt Sedillo: City on the Second Floor
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
Mar 26, 2026 ·1m
Jan 2, 2026 ·47m
Dec 21, 2025 ·46m