This is Hanif in his own words:
“Hanif
Abdurraqib is a poet, and excellent high-fiver from Columbus, Ohio. He is a
member of the 2012 Writer's Block poetry slam team, which won the 2012 Rustbelt
Regional Poetry Slam. He really wants a pug, yet has not gotten a strong enough
desire to actually look for one over the course of the past year. Poetry is
just what he does when he's not running around the city taking pictures of
himself in fast food restroom mirrors.”
This is Hanif in my words:
Look forward to reading Hanif’s “Keep The Carbon, Leave
The Bible” in our first issue. This is
how he describes it: “Very loosely based off of a true story, in the way that
"Transformers" films are documentaries on the auto industry, this
piece was inspired by a night spent in a bar with a friend on the 41st
anniversary of the Kent State shootings, upon analyzing a picture of Mary
Vecchio crying over her dead classmate hanging on the wall of the bar.” This is probably my favourite line: “And
there are instructions for autopsies carved into the girl’s bathroom wall with
switchblades from way past curfew chest pockets.”
To date, Hanif has yet to receive a rejection letter (a
remarkable feat!). He also says he’s
helping save the world: “I dance only three times per year. But when I do, the
Earth moves closer and closer to doomsday, with each step. So, my lack of
dancing is really saving the world.”
1. How did you get started in writing? In
other words, what inspired you? One day you weren’t a writer and the next, you
were—what changed?
Ha.
Well, my relationship status, for one. I am among the millions who were dragged
to writing by a scavenger hunt for pieces of a broken heart. I also didn't
write poetry first. I wrote music a lot. That clearly didn't work out.
2. What do you like to write? Any
particular genres, themes, topics, etc?
I like
to write about the things that we all go through, and don't talk about as
freely as we'd like to. I like to write about the things that kind of ping-pong
around our minds, but never make it any further. If it can open up a heartfelt
conversation about the human condition, especially within a somewhat apathetic
generation, I want to tackle it, as artistically as possible. Also, music. And
girls. I'm kind of like Brian Wilson before the drugs, sometimes. Minus the
surfing.
3. What is your favourite colour?
Whatever
color Anne Hathaway is currently wearing.
4. What would you say inspires you the
most? Is your writing fueled purely by emotion, topical in nature, or are you
just trying to tell a story?
I would
like to think it can both be fueled by emotion, and tell a fantastic story. If
there is no emotion in the work, the story won't go very far. I'm inspired be
the generation of kids who are/were just like me. Trying to live up to the
expectations placed on us by our elders, trying not to crumble entirely. Taking
risks in every way possible.
5. Who are some of your favourite writers?
What do you like about them? How have they influenced your writing?
Well,
this is something that can go a lot of ways. Some of my favorite writers aren't
poets. Bruce Springsteen is a large influence on me. I learned how to tell
stories in three minutes from Bruce's music. You learn how to paint effective
pictures in as little time as possible listening to what he's capable of. Aaron
Sorkin is a big influence on me, as far as unique pace, and clever angles. Bret
Easton Ellis' work really resonates with me as well. Making the shockingly
abnormal seem beautiful. Poetry-wise....I like Carl Solomon a lot. I mean,
we've all read "Howl" and heard Ginsberg shout "Carl Solomon! I
am with you in Rockland!" and all of that, but Solomon's work is
brilliant. I got my hands on his two chapbooks that came out in the 60's. Crazy
stuff. I am a really big student of poets and poetry, so this is not going to
be a short answer. I find myself influenced by so many other poets in the slam
scene, or the Columbus scene, in general. Jason Brazwell is a big influence on
my work. Possibly the biggest. Listening to him taught me to use humor as a
tool, and not a gimmick. Scott Woods' philosophies on poetry are
often spot on, and things that anyone can learn from. I dig really deep into
the work of Emily Rose, from Chicago. It's diverse, challenging, and always
interesting. Will Evans' work really taught me a lot about imagery, and the
idea that in YOUR poem, you can literally do anything you want with your
environment, to make your story more compelling. Rachel McKibbens' work REALLY
gets inside the hearts of everyone, does some really beautiful damage, and then
puts everything back together again, in just the right place. I strive for
that, at times. There are many, many more. All of Columbus' poetry scene has
pushed me to improve, and challenged my work. Columbus' scene is really rich
with a variety of different writers, and to be able to go out and hear an Ethan
Rivera, or a Rachel Wiley, or a Vernell Bristow almost every week, gives you no
real chance but to work on your craft. I have studied the work of so many
performance poets, I'm literally ashamed to name all of them.
6. If you could only listen to one album
and only one album for the rest of eternity, which album would it be and why?
Most
likely the Clash's "London Calling". I am a bit of a music nerd, I
used to write about music for a living, so I have a pretty intense relationship
with it. London Calling, for me, is the perfect album. It takes you through an
entire cycle of feelings. It's punk. It's dance. It's romance. It was at the
end of the 70's. Everyone's hearts were on fire, and no one had any clue how to
put them out. There was a lot of real passion there.
7. If you could force your worst enemy to
listen to one album and only one album for the rest of eternity, which album
would it be and why?
Oh, I
don't know. I mean, I don't know if I really have a worst enemy, these days.
I'd like one. I've got to stay on my toes, and one can't do that if everyone likes
them. That said, for the sake of a general answer, I would go with the worst
album by a really good artist. Great artists always have an album where they
just drop the ball. And I think it'd be more painful to listen to that than
anything. To know that you're listening to a person with incredible talent, who
just couldn't put it together. So, I'll say Johnny Cash's "Gone
Girl".
8. Other than writing, what would you say
are some of your favourite hobbies and pastimes?
"I'm
just a regular guy, man. I make good grilled cheese, and I like
girls." - Justin Bieber.
Outside
of that, I really love the city I live in. I'm beyond thankful to have my days
filled with things I love doing and being a part of. I bake. I don't eat much
of what I bake, and I surround myself with people who don't like to hurt my
feelings, so I have no idea how good I am at it. I'm big into collecting
records, and I'm a huge sports fan. I've enjoyed having sports conversations
with poets....when I first entered the scene, I felt like no poets were also
sports fans. I'm all about sitting and talking. Probably too much. My porch is
also a meeting hall, church, romantic getaway, and juke joint.
9. What is the biggest and best journey
you have ever taken in your life? You may interpret this question however you
wish.
Really,
simply learning to love and trust people close to me. And understand that it's
alright to feel good about the things I create. I'm always struggling with
confidence, in as many ways as my mind will allow me to. That journey is
definitely the biggest. It's also been the best, thanks to all of the community
I've been fortunate enough to come across.
10. You’ve made it pretty well known how
much you love Columbus, Ohio. In three words or less, tell us why.
NOT.
ENOUGH. WORDS.
11. How did you come to host a poetry open
mic every Thursday night? In general, how did you get involved in the poetry
scene?
Well, I
was kind of just around when Travonna Coffee House (where Pen and Palette is
held) was opening up. And the owner, Travis, asked me if I wanted to get a
poetry night started. I was REALLY apathetic. I mean, this was two and a half
years ago. I wasn't particularly interested in poetry then, but I DID know a
few poets. Eventually, I gave in, started the night, and I'm really surprised
that we've been going for as long as we have. We have been fortunate to have a
great growing audience, we've gotten fantastic features, as well.We decided to
start having features every month in about December. We've been fortunate to
get great poets, and great people. It means a lot to me to be able to
contribute in that way. My life on the poetry scene began there. And grew as I
started going to nights other than my own. There's not only a lot of poetry in
Columbus....there's a lot of GOOD poetry in Columbus. I'm glad I can chip in a
humble offering.
12. What would you say has been your
greatest moment or achievement as a slam poet? Are there any performances that
really stick out?
My
greatest moment as a slam poet? Being able to sit at the Rustbelt Poetry Slam,
and be fortunate enough to represent Columbus on a finals stage. And being able
to watch some of the best performances I've ever seen. I don't know if any of
MY performances stick out, but I'm proud to say that I was a part of a finals
stage that was simply jaw dropping. THEIR performances stick out. Neil
Hilborn's poem "Audiobook". THAT performance sticks out for me. In my
slam "career", that was one of my favorite performances ever. Look it
up. [Or you can just click here]
13. As someone who has very quickly climbed
the ranks of the poetry world, what advice can you give to young writers out
there who are interested in the poetry scene?
Listen
far more than you write. If you hear a poem you like, talk to the poet about
it. Don't be afraid to ask poets about their work. They want that, most likely.
Study poems. Study devices. Keep listening until you find your voice, and when
you do, don't sacrifice it for anything. Don't write for scores. Don't write
for attention. It's easy when you love your work more than the rewards your
work may bring. Also, hug early. Learn to love hugs. You'll never make it out
of this scene alive if you can't hug.
Watch Hanif read “You’re Mother told Me
to come up here and Kill You (My Black Friends)” at the 2012 Rustbelt Regional
Poetry Slam:
And here’s Hanif talking about Columbus
and poetry:
You can follow Hanif on Twitter @NifMuhammad
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