Post by jackke116 on May 31, 2013 16:53:58 GMT -5
Terrance Hayes is an African American poet who grew up in Columbia, South Carolina, during the 1970s, in a time when racism still highly pervaded the southern states. Fortunately, under the guidance of his parents, James and Ethel, Hayes was able to thrive in numerous ways. He soon discovered his talents in writing and basketball as he worked through high school. Although he had a love for writing, as a child he never loved poetry, nor considered a career in it.
Luckily, that all changed. It was not until his senior year at Coker College that he uncovered his passion for poetry. Coker gave Hayes a basketball scholarship, enabling him to be the first in his family to attend college. Hayes proved himself to be a true Renaissance man as he achieved an Academic All-America distinction for his achievements in the classroom and in basketball. As a senior, Hayes’ English professor, Lois Gibson, inspired him to develop a lifelong love for poetry. Lois recalls, “Terrance was already a poet when he was a student at Coker. His work became deeper and more impressive over time.” Gibson served as Hayes’ map, so that he could discover his poetic brilliance. She led him to further his study of poetry at the University of Pittsburgh, where he earned his Master of Fine Arts degree. Hayes later attended the inaugural retreat for the Cave Canem foundation, dedicated to fostering the growth of African American poets. It was there he would later meet his current wife, Yona Harvey.
Hayes soon developed a poetic interest in black culture while teaching at Xavier University in the late 1990s, and thoroughly began to explore it. He indeed delves deep into black culture, as well as identity in his poetry. Over time, his poetry has evolved and become more applicable to human society as a whole. His lines range from black cultural icons such as Shaft, Fat Albert, and Miles Davis, to, “The lightheadedness of a mind trying to pull against gravity and time.” Hayes explores virtually every aspect of the human identity. He ponders of how Shaft’s, “afro was a crown,” concludes that, “everyone/is a descendent of slaves.” Asks, “Daddy, tell me again how I was born,” and notes, “you can spend your whole life/doing no more than preparing for life and thinking/ ‘Is this all there is?”
The award winning poet and co-founder of Cave Canem, Cornelius Eady, said of Hayes’ poetry, “First you’ll marvel at his skill, his near perfect pitch, his disarming humor, his brilliant turns of phrase. Then you’ll notice the grace, the tenderness, the unblinking truth telling between the lines, the open and generous way he takes in our world.”
Hayes said of his own poetry, “There are recurring explorations of identity and culture in my work and rather than deny my thematic obsessions, I seek to change the forms in which I voice them. I aspire to a poetic style that resists style.” I believe Hayes does a magnificent job of exploring the makings of identity and culture in his works. Each poem takes on a different aspect of identity, and maintains a different structure appropriate for the topic at hand. In reading his poetry, we can all discover a little bit more about ourselves, and the culture we live in.
Currently, Hayes is a professor of creative writing at Carnegie Mellon University. At the university, he developed the course Out Poetry, “exploring the intersections of poetry and the public sphere.” He lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Yona, and his two children, Ua and Aaron. But today, we have the privilege of welcoming him to Westfield High School. Please join me in welcoming poet Terrance Hayes.
(616 words)
Luckily, that all changed. It was not until his senior year at Coker College that he uncovered his passion for poetry. Coker gave Hayes a basketball scholarship, enabling him to be the first in his family to attend college. Hayes proved himself to be a true Renaissance man as he achieved an Academic All-America distinction for his achievements in the classroom and in basketball. As a senior, Hayes’ English professor, Lois Gibson, inspired him to develop a lifelong love for poetry. Lois recalls, “Terrance was already a poet when he was a student at Coker. His work became deeper and more impressive over time.” Gibson served as Hayes’ map, so that he could discover his poetic brilliance. She led him to further his study of poetry at the University of Pittsburgh, where he earned his Master of Fine Arts degree. Hayes later attended the inaugural retreat for the Cave Canem foundation, dedicated to fostering the growth of African American poets. It was there he would later meet his current wife, Yona Harvey.
Hayes soon developed a poetic interest in black culture while teaching at Xavier University in the late 1990s, and thoroughly began to explore it. He indeed delves deep into black culture, as well as identity in his poetry. Over time, his poetry has evolved and become more applicable to human society as a whole. His lines range from black cultural icons such as Shaft, Fat Albert, and Miles Davis, to, “The lightheadedness of a mind trying to pull against gravity and time.” Hayes explores virtually every aspect of the human identity. He ponders of how Shaft’s, “afro was a crown,” concludes that, “everyone/is a descendent of slaves.” Asks, “Daddy, tell me again how I was born,” and notes, “you can spend your whole life/doing no more than preparing for life and thinking/ ‘Is this all there is?”
The award winning poet and co-founder of Cave Canem, Cornelius Eady, said of Hayes’ poetry, “First you’ll marvel at his skill, his near perfect pitch, his disarming humor, his brilliant turns of phrase. Then you’ll notice the grace, the tenderness, the unblinking truth telling between the lines, the open and generous way he takes in our world.”
Hayes said of his own poetry, “There are recurring explorations of identity and culture in my work and rather than deny my thematic obsessions, I seek to change the forms in which I voice them. I aspire to a poetic style that resists style.” I believe Hayes does a magnificent job of exploring the makings of identity and culture in his works. Each poem takes on a different aspect of identity, and maintains a different structure appropriate for the topic at hand. In reading his poetry, we can all discover a little bit more about ourselves, and the culture we live in.
Currently, Hayes is a professor of creative writing at Carnegie Mellon University. At the university, he developed the course Out Poetry, “exploring the intersections of poetry and the public sphere.” He lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Yona, and his two children, Ua and Aaron. But today, we have the privilege of welcoming him to Westfield High School. Please join me in welcoming poet Terrance Hayes.
(616 words)