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Harlem poet visits SCSU
 Media Credit: Leslie Andres/News Editor Aarian Pope, dubbed �Harlem�s Own Poetess,� reads one of her works Thursday at the Atwood Quarry. Pope has been writing poems since her college days and has published a book containing several of them. Pope also gave words of wisdom to poets in the audience. The event, free for all audience members, was sponsored by UPB�s Literary Arts Committee.
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Settled into the darkness of the Quarry, a hush fell upon the chatty voices. With a sound voice she spoke; of life, of relationships, of good times and bad.
She is Aarian Pope, "Harlem's Poetess."
"I want you to enjoy some poetry you might not have considered," Pope said to the crowd.
Pope visited the SCSU campus Thursday night on behalf of the Literary Arts Committee and University Program Board.
Bianca Rhodes, coordinator to the Literary Arts Committee, first met Pope at the regional conference of the National Association of Campus Activities Conference (NACA) in Sioux Falls, S.D. in the Fall of 2001.
After meeting Pope, Rhodes spoke with other people. After several people highly suggesting that Pope should visit, Rhodes felt that Pope should speak to SCSU.
"She (Pope) reminds me of all my relatives," Rhodes said. "Like all the women in my family. She acts like the big sister that I always wanted and never had."
Pope read several excerpts from her book "Painting Windows Big Enough to Climb Through." She also read excerpts of her pieces that have been published in "Bum Rush the Page," by Lewis Reyes Rivera and Tony Medina, by Three Rivers Press and Random House, a collection poetry.
Her pieces are based on her own life, mostly her own family. She writes a very emotional, sensitive collection of works. She spoke of freedoms and of having a good time. Her piece "Afro Luncheonette," tells about a place at her home where there were good times and she heard stories of years ago.
Her piece "Woulda Coulda Shoulda" is brief, but it speaks of the would have, could have, should have of relationships.
Other pieces, "A Sweet Brown Kiss" and "Love Like French Toast and Mondays Off," told about falling in love.
Other pieces talked about family and the joys of being a mother.
After she read there was an open-mic session where students and faculty read their own pieces.
"These are for the dancer, the sculptor, the photographer, for the creator inside you," Pope said. "I definitely get my influence from people in my family. My uncles, cousins, grandmothers, my family's friends."
Pope was born and raised in New York. She has written all her life. She began reading about 10 years ago in coffeehouses and for friends whenever they asked. She first read at the Brooklyn Moon Caf�, and eventually people asked her to read more and more. She eventually held and hosted plenty of her own poetry readings.
"I did so many readings for so long. All those years and not asking for anything," Pope said. "I was happy because someone wanted me to read."
She was first introduced to speaking at a young age through her family.
"I grew up in a church. I read in front of people," Pope said. "It shaped my presence in front of people."
Through her experiences she finds that writing is her form of therapy.
"One thing, just writing, has saved my life and I hope that anyone who is secretly writing, that it helps them," Pope said. "Not all poems have to be read on stage, not a prerequisite. If they need to really say it out loud because it makes a difference, then do it."
Pope encourages all people who want to write to do so.
"Don't let anything pull your face," Pope said. "Always have a plan B. Never take it personal. You always have a choice."
"She's very warm and nice to be around," said Rhodes. "She doesn't need a whole lot to be pleased. Overall she's a very strong, wonderful person."
Nissa Billmyer can be reached at: [email protected]
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