For our 16th episode, host, Aaron Tyler Hand is joined by poet, environmental educator, and cultural preservationist Ashia Ajani. Outside of giving insight into their debut full length collection called Heirloom, Ashia and Aaron discuss the crossroads between environmental justice and social harm. Additionally, they talk about the importance of connecting to nature and greenspaces, especially for those stuck in a carceral system. They take a deep dive into understanding inheritance and forced migration when sharing ones climate story. Ashia also goes into how one can use imagination to fight against despair.
Ashia Ajani:
Imagination is one of the most powerful tools we have against despair.
Poems:
When is Enough
when is enough when is enough when is enough
when is enough of the lying when is enough of the blinding
when is enough of the hiding tell me when is enough
tell me when is enough of these games, exposing your true self
stop hiding yo colors, you run it back thats that side that you hear
and wonder, got yo lil thing choking on the truth from under
if you hear on the side i saved yo ass some time
so when is enough
i know you getting tired of being up under the rain
making you drained feeding yo ass that good that you came
born with smoke in my veins, obliterating the game
fuck the money and the fame don’t mention the name
put you in the world for a minute that’s the ode
so when this poems over you decide, if you gonna
ride when is enough when is enough
Haunted House
this is the home that i provide
it may seem dark and uninspired
but such are things after the fire
for my passion flame torment and blame
keep my hidden from the lame
safe and sound from those around
i try my best to be
otherwise they’d all surround
for i am truly free
you’re welcome in my haunted house
where the blessings flow like waterfalls
and with your love and my great seed
together we’ll begin to see
new life blooming as giving trees
now all that seemed denied by one
slowly embraced by the new son
at peace in love
the Kid has won
Move on (letter for you)
Got to move on to better things, can’t put pleasure first while i am
in the rain cause if i do she going to hold me back from everything
make me go in circles and relapse. I am just stating facts.
Homie you got to let her go cause in the end you going to end up behind bars.
A contemptuous woman you got to stay away giving yall a warning
of the day. Saving your ass, being behind the glass, go get you
some money like money running on the paper. Just a nigga
dark vader that nobody’s heard or knows.
Airwalks and Chucks
The dog follows his knows
Seeing beyond good and bad
Trusting in the righteous and beautiful
The lying found trying are buying now flying
Open mouths in disbelief
Denying conditioned acceptable grief
Your being converted to gnarly All-Stars
Airwalks and the Chucks
Good talks and good fux
All will be free for a couple’a bux
Where you’ll never say “man this world sux!”
Pretending to suffer old man has now died
Killed him with fair kindness no way he would mind
Reborn on an airplane unknown to the blind
The vision of destiny was for him to find
Inter-dependent created invented
The broken is helping the wanted and spoken
The poet has legs others wish to beg
No effort required exhausted and tired
The past was found failing unworthy and fired
As the one from my rib yelled out Shotgun! Dibs!
Following the one’s light heartfelt deep in the night
What Goes On In A Cell
well shit hell, let me tell you what i do through the day
i just rewind and play, and make a song its like a job
can i carry on what be happenin i be laughin and rappin
put my finger on the chrome tappin sometimes i be nappin
no i ain’t capping and i am not talking about cap’n crunch
shit is chow him got to go man i am just going with the flow
you see us incarcerated the world needs
Writing Prompts:
Ashia uses “Running” to reflect on their life and the tragic news of Ahmaund Arbery. As a Black person who enjoys the outdoors, Ashia found a deeper connection to and emphasized with Ahmaund in a way that led to this desire to write this poem. Think of a recent news story that you saw on TV, or recently read about, that you felt a deep connection to. It could be a tragic story like that of Ahmaund Arbery, or it could be something happier. Whatever that story is, write about it and what drew you to it.
The heat of “porch” (or in other words, the moment in the poem that carries the most weight) comes at the end of the poem when the speaker starts to list their desires. These final lines form a litany that causes a ramping up of tension for the reader. This tension allows the speaker to sternly demand what should be rightfully theirs. Right now in life, what are your biggest desires? Which needs are not getting met? Write a poem that lists these desires and talks about why they are owed to you.
“life cycle” is a commentary on the current state of America, viewed through the lens of a personal and familial perspective. It describes America as a factory, a landfill, a false idol, and a malignant tumor. The poem also highlights the racial and economic disparities in America, with Black people often being at the receiving end of the negative effects of pollution and waste. Start off by writing down “America is ____” and write four descriptors of the United States. Take each of those “America is ____” lines and make them their own stanza. Under each heading, write why you see America in this way.