Check Out Gabriel “VOTH” Acosta’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabriel “VOTH” Acosta.

Hi Gabriel “VOTH”, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Growing up, I endured a lot of trauma. I used to think the world was out to get me. I didn’t think I would make it to 18, but then I did and I wasn’t prepared. I knew I wanted to practice medicine but I also wanted to be a writer. In 2023, my imPOSSIBLE (I’m Possible) dream came true: Dieagnosis was born with Riot of Roses Publishing House. My book is about my traumas and mental health journey written as a story in poetic form. Never give up. No matter how deep you’re submerged, lifelines are all around to bring you back up.
Going to open mics or being the feature, I’d ask myself what type of legacy do I want to leave? Hope. So, I embodied lighthouse energy and guided lost travelers “home.” Today, during the day, I work at UCI Medical Center in Orange and at night I go to school, and on weekends, I attend poetry events or craft poetry.
I have a virtual show, Coffee, Waffles + Poetry where I hold space for folks who’ve endured trauma. I share expressive arts therapy methods through healing sessions and wellness checks. No matter which way the waves steer you, the journey will always guide you where you’re meant to be or perhaps somewhere new.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t been a smooth road. I do suffer from MDD and I’ve made 5 suicide attempts in my lifetime. In 2023, I stopped choosing death and instead chose life. Emotions can be the most difficult to breathe through. I’ve had a comorbidity of diagnoses, but I stopped allowing them to hold power over me. I overcame these challenges by unlearning toxicity, forgiving self and others, learned new ways to cope, and established a routine to be healthy. I now live and love unapologetically for the physical, mental, and emotional self. As my Tia Brenda would say, “You have to live for yourself because at the end of the day, its your life. So, how do you want to live it?”

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a published author of poetry. I love to challenge my creativity and think of different ways to format and structure pieces. I love to craft concrete poetry: when you shape a poem into an object. I’ve taken it a step further and have shaped an entire calavera with words, letters, and punctuation symbols, and then added colors to make it pop. This poem was showcased last year in the Los Angeles County Fair in collaboration with Eastside Arts Initiative and Los Angeles Poets Society. I’ve also collaborated in other projects such as Beneath the Soil vol iii: Queer Survivors of Sexual Assault released with Time to Tell and Braver Collective, 2024; Together We Rise: Voice from the Frontlines of Freedom Anthology published with Daxson Publishing, 2026; Terraforming Marginalized Voices by Infinite Poets (Coeditor) Hollywood Fringe Festival, 2022.

I’m most proud of my book, Dieagnsosis. Through my darkest days, I still experienced love, hope, magic, and light. One of my many dreams was for a child to pick up my book, and while Dieagnosis isn’t suitable for children, there was a reading at Miriam’s Garden located at Hyde Park Miriam Matthews Public Library in South Los Angeles, I had an interaction with children. My poem Forbidden Temptation is wild, dark, and chaotic, but through this poem, I was able to connect to a boy of ten. His mom told me he had recently thought about death and thanked me for reading there that day. He was very excited and spoke with me afterwards. This boy who was around the age when I first attempted suicide, knowing that I made a difference in his life, brought joy to mine.

What sets me apart from others is my ability to transport the audience into my world. It’s not just reading poetry on a page, but rather being apart of the story. When I read for an event at Holy Grounds Coffee and Tea, there was an audience member who I had connected with. They say “eyes are the gateway to the soul,” so its these moments where I connect with community letting them know they aren’t alone.
I also add music into my readings or performances such as in Dancing in the Stillness of Water, the music used offers sensory stimulation.

Aside from writing and crafting poetry, I offer a virtual safe space called Coffee, Waffles + Poetry. Through Expressive Arts Therapy, I guide folks through healing sessions or I invite poets on to feature. Afterwards, I offer an open mic to anyone who wants to share their experiences.

Currently working on workbooks, books 2 and 3, a concrete poetry book, and a children’s book (if you know an illustrator, let me know)

What was your favorite childhood memory?
Choosing one favorite is hard, but it was Christmas morning when I was four. Christmas Eve I had spent the night at my abuelos and I woke up to chatter in the living room. My abuelo was building a lego tower with my Tia Lupita and I was shocked to see how tall it was. There were so many gifts all around and my family telling me “Mira que se trajo Santa Clause.” At the time, yes it was the gifts, but it was also the love and the joy surrounding me. Growing up, I was closer to my aunts and grandparents. When I was a kid, I was bullied severely, so when I was on break, I’d be with them and they gave me a childhood where fear wasn’t in control. They danced, played, and flourished my “weird” creative mind. They were and still are the embodiment of stability.

Pricing:

• Dieagnosis: 25.00
• Poem on Demand: 10+

Contact Info:

• Instagram: voth_94_
• Facebook: voth94
• Other: https://linktr.ee/voth_94_