YUSEF KOMUNYAKAA: Trentonian By Day, Pulitzer Prize Winning Poet By Night

Professor Komunyakaa reciting one of his poems.

TRENTON-Today, Anwar's Reflections was fortunate enough to sit down with Pulitzer Prize winning poet Yusef Komunyakaa. Many people know that Professor Komunyakaa has written numerous books and won many awards for his poetry, but few know that he lives right here in New Jersey's state capitol, Trenton. Born in Bogalusa, Louisiana, Komunyakaa has seen his fare share of life. From serving in the military to teaching Creative Writing at Princeton University and NYU, Komunyakaa has seen quite a bit. Nowadays, you can find the prolific author promoting his newest book, The Chamelon Couch, which just hit stores two weeks ago. Indeed, Professor Komunyakaa takes great pride in his work. During our interview, Komunyakaa discusses his background, his passion for poetry, and much more. Below you will find a copy of Anwar's Reflections exclusive interview with Trenton's Bard Yusef Komunyakaa: 

 

AGS:  First off, can you tell our listeners out there a little bit about what you do as an educator and poet?

Currently, I teach poetry (craft and workshops) in the Graduate Creative Writing Program at New York University.  I’m always working on at least three collections of poetry simultaneously (my latest collection The Chameleon Couch was released by Farrar, Straus and Giroux this week).  I also write and publish plays, verse plays, and essays.

 

AGS: What is your background? How long have you been an educator and a poet?

I grew up in Bogalusa, Louisiana. I believe that one internalizes a landscape, and Bogalusa still influences my perspective on the world and my work. My great-grandfather and my father were carpenters, and my first dream was centered on becoming a horticulturist. I had drawn plans for greenhouses and I learned a few things about grafting plants. As a teenager I had numerous jobs (which perhaps, in retrospect, facilitated my writing), but the most defining experience was a summer job where I cut pulpwood with my uncle and cousin, whereby we would enter the woods at daybreak and exit after sunset. I thought nature was magical even though sweat was running into my eyes and every muscle in my body was aching.

When I was 21 years old, I was drafted into the army and eventually sent to Vietnam. Some time after I returned, I entered college with a triple major psychology, sociology, and English. After graduating, I went on to earn two graduate degrees in Creative Writing. In 1982, the University of New Orleans invited me to teach composition. After a few years there, I thought I’d return to working with my hands as a cabinet-maker, but I received a call from Indiana University inviting me to teach creative writing in a one-year visiting position. I ended up teaching there for ten years. Since then I’ve taught full-time at Princeton University and New York University.

AGS: Which poets influenced your work?

Early on in grade school I was introduced to the work of Edgar Allen Poe and the poets of the Harlem Renaissance (Langston Hughes, Claude Mackay, Countee Cullen, Anne Spencer, etc), along with Phillis Wheatley and Paul Laurence Dunbar. I was amazed by Wheatley’s work: this girl who was brought to Boston on a slave ship (called the Phillis) when she was seven or eight years old had written many of her poems as a teenager between scrubbing floors and working in the Wheatley household. Her work and her indomitable spirit spoke to me.

My influences are numerous and include writers, artists, and musicians such as Robert Hayden, Elizabeth Bishop, Paul Roebeson, Romare Bearden, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, and many others.

 

AGS: Did you face any challenges in becoming an educator and a poet? If so, how did you overcome those challenges?

I feel that one’s biggest challenge is oneself. I was taught by my great-grandfather to believe in myself because he believed there wasn’t anything one couldn’t do with hard work and perseverance. I think one can’t be afraid to dare life to inform oneself, but one has to be humbled by the reality of one’s dreams and prepared to venture beyond the safe, overly familiar world.  For me, listening became instructive as a poet and as a teacher.

 

AGS: Being that you're an educator and poet yourself, what advice, if any, would you give an up and coming poet that wants to succeed as well?

For the true poet, the poetry itself is the only success. Writing comes out of a need and most of the peripheral activity is no more than a distraction from the work that has to be done.

It is hard to be a poet and not love language or embrace the mechanics of revision. Attempt to read everything, and don’t be afraid to let time become a component of the equation. Have patience with the poem and actively engage it. Poetry is instructive on how life is a process of negotiation. Each day changes us, so when we return to a poem changed, our perception of the poem changes, and perhaps we are less afraid of confronting ourselves.

AGS is an acronym for the author and founder of Anwar's Reflections, Anwar G. Salandy.

Poet Name: Yusef Komunyakaa

Poet's Latest Book: The Chameleon Couch 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/YusefKomunyakaa/416718860025?v=info

Interview With DJ WES WILL

DJ Name: DJ WES WILL
DJ Contact Information: weswillbiz@yahoo.com
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/DJ-WESWILL-FAN-PAGE/128298270523743?ref=ts

Today, Anwar's Reflections sat down with well-known DJ WES WILL at Rider University. From parties to open mic gatherings, the Bronx native has been spinning the one's and two's with unmistakable vigor ever since he was in high school. During the interview, it became evident that Will is a DJ that takes great pride in bringing range and versatility to his craft. Needless to say, he doesn't take DJ'ing lightly. Looking over his career thus far, it became fairly obvious that DJ Wes Will is a multifaceted entertainer. From playing the piano to tackling the bass guitar, it is clear that music is something DJ Wes Will is deeply passionate about.

Nowadays, you can find Wes Will performing at a variety of venues. For the Bronx-based DJ, DJ'ing is not simply a matter of pressing a button, but rather an art form that ought to be taken seriously. Since graduating from college, DJ Wes Will has made it a conscious effort to get together and create what he calls the S.W.A.T. Team, a group of individuals that are committed to keeping your party jumping. He and his talented team of DJ's perform around the state and collaborate on various projects. During our interview, DJ Wes Will discusses his passion for music and much more. Below you will find a audio recording of my exclusive interview with DJ Wes Will along with a YouTube video of DJ WES WILL performing:

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Musician CLIFFORD ADAMS Has Trenton Roots, But Global Reach

Musician Name: CLIFFORD ADAMS
Musician Affiliation: KOOL AND THE GANG

Today, Anwar's Reflections was fortunate enough to sit down with well-known trombonist Clifford Adams. Many know him as being part of the top selling jazz group KOOL AND THE GANG, but few know that Adams grew up right here in Trenton, New Jersey. Throughout his illustrious career, Adams has played with many of the jazz greats, including but not limited to, Freddie Hubbard and Lee Morgan.  Thankfully, Adams decided to take his unique talents on the road. In the process, he has been fortunate enough to tour the world and traverse locations the likes of South Africa, Japan, Australia, and Russia, just to name a few. Let's face it, not everyone gets a chance to go on tour with legendary songstress Patti Labelle and the Bluebells at the tender age of 18. Nowadays, you can find Adams traveling the world, doing shows, and accumulating critically acclaimed awards. From American Music Awards (AMA's) to the well-known Grammy's, Adams has seen it all.

Even though you would think a man of his stature would just as easily overlook community outreach due to his fame and fortune, Adams has never forgotten where he comes from. As a result, he has given back to the community through the non-profit organization, DRUM (Developmental Roundtable for the Upward Mobility of Musicians). The organization is fighting to make sure inner city youth have access to music education. In addition to that, Adams truly supports community bloggers like myself and for that I am forever grateful. Below you will find a video recording of my exclusive interview with the one and only CLIFFORD ADAMS: