Michael Madsen's Son Luke Interviewed About Writing Poetry

Written Kalvin Madsen for LHF News

Oct 13, 2025

Luke Madsen's first interview as a poet

Pasadena, CA — Californian poet and actor Luke Ray Madsen, 19, views his poetry not as a craft of formal storytelling, but as a vital and intensely personal act of "journaling"—a means of safeguarding fleeting memories against the inevitable erosion of time.

In a recent interview for Low Hanging Fruit Magazine, conducted by his brother and the magazine's editor-in-chief, Kalvin M. Madsen, the younger Madsen described his writing process as an antidote to the human tendency to forget.

"Over time, naturally, you forget things... even if it's little things," Madsen said, sitting in front of a bookcase in the interview. "It's scientifically proven that even memories just get fully wiped from your mind. And I just, that kind of freaks me out."

See the video interview here

Madsen explained that his poems often capture small, "little interactions" and details that might otherwise be lost. He offered an example of writing about a "trash can lid spinning" or a raven walking outside, "clanking its claws on the roof."

"What if the next week the ravens don't feel like coming," Madsen mused, "and then in 10 years from now, I don't even remember that there was even ravens there at all? And I'd like to remember that there was something cool as this big black bird stomping around, you know, in front of me."

This desire to "store memories" drives his work, transforming his poetry into a living record. He stressed that his creative process is spontaneous and pure, prioritizing the instinct to write over formal structure. "I don't really put myself in it," he said of his writing, clarifying that he doesn't "seek to write a poem," but rather to "write whatever's on my mind."

Influences and Future Aspirations

When asked about poetic influences, Madsen cited the works of his late father, acclaimed actor and poet Michael Madsen, who passed away in July 2025. He noted that he reads his father's books alongside others, including the Bible. The interview also touched on the fact that Luke's work is appreciated by family, with him mentioning that his aunt and grandmother always look forward to his poems, providing an intimate connection to those around him.

Madsen, who projects a relaxed, authentic Californian vibe with a distinct appreciation for the cowboy aesthetic, remains modest about broader publication. He admitted the vastness of the literary world—symbolized by a trip to a bookstore featured in the video—makes him question how his work would be received. He expressed that a full collection would currently be "just for me," preferring to keep his writing authentic and free from commercial pressure.

Madsen's latest poems can be found in Issue 3 of Low Hanging Fruit Magazine.