A 2007 Warsaw High School graduate, Kaveh Akbar is the founder and editor of Divedapper.com, which features interviews with some of the poetry world’s biggest names. A “divedapper,” Akbar explains, is a type of grebe (a duckish water bird) to which Shakespeare compares Adonis in his work, “Venus and Adonis.” Choosing “Divedapper” as the name for his project also relates to his parents’ jobs at Maple Leaf Farms. “In my childhood, ducks provided my physical sustenance, and now they provide my intellectual sustenance,” he explained. (Photo courtesy of Kip Carter)

Kaveh Akbar’s fixation with fan mail began when he was 14. At that age, he heard the first album that truly moved him, “Business Casual” by the band Beep Beep. It moved him so much, he felt it was essential to communicate his feelings to the band. When the lead singer wrote back, Akbar was hooked.

Fast forward to today, and the 2007 Warsaw High School graduate is now a third through 12th grade creative writing teacher in Indianapolis. He’s finishing an MFA in creative writing from Butler University and applying to Ph.D. programs to study poetry. He’s also never outgrown his fixation with fan mail, although it’s taken on a whole new form.

At his web site, Divedapper.com, Akbar connects with those whose creative work has inspired him. The site features conversations with Akbar’s literary heroes, who also happen to be some of the poetry world’s biggest names.

“Divedapper began about a year ago, and was born out of that same spirit to talk to and delve into the minds of people whose work shaped me,” he said. “Each interview is different for each poet. The things that interest me about each poet’s work will never be exactly the same.”

What each interview has in common is Akbar’s underlining passion for poetry and his down-to-earth voice. His interviews are more like conversations between friends — only these “friends” are poet laureates, published authors, Pulitzer prize winners, professors at Ivy League universities and titans in the contemporary poetic community.

Although he believes it’s extraordinary to talk with each poet, two interviews particularly stand out: Franz Wright and Jean Valentine.

“I’ve been reading Franz Wright’s poetry forever and it took a while to arrange an interview with him,” Akbar said about the 2004 Pulitzer Prize winner. “There was a lot of build up in my head before we talked, but he was gracious and kind.”

For Valentine’s interview, Akbar cold called her using a phone number he found in the phone book. She’s a 12 time author and winner of the 2004 National Book Award for Poetry.

“She called me back the next day after I left a message. We chatted for 20 minutes and set up a time for an interview. I couldn’t believe this famous poet just called me back like that,” he said.

Although he’s had poets not interested in being interviewed, the majority are very enthusiastic and supportive once they’ve seen the Divedapper project.

“This is the most soul affirming thing I’ve ever done,” said Akbar. “Many of these poets I’ve read since I was 15. I feel like I know them so well already, although I’ve never spoken to them. I often just try not to swallow my own tongue with excitement.”

Akbar’s own writing has appeared in Best American Nonrequired Reading, The Rumpus, The New York Quarterly, The Awl, The Dublin Quarterly and elsewhere. He describes his writing as a conversation with what’s going on in his reading, and a way to add another voice to the conversation that has been going on for millennia.

“Poetry is the thing I love best, and to get to talk with the people who do it best is indescribable,” he said. “These are my heroes. It’s the most extraordinary, lucky thing that’s ever happened to me. I can’t do justice to the magnitude of gratitude I have for these people.”