diVERSES reKINDLED: In Conversation With Poet Hannah Stephenson

When Hannah Stephenson agreed to be the feature of Columbus’s first poetry reality show, the Listening Room, she took the assignment serious.

She found 3 friends who were not poets, and read each a poem she selected specifically for them.

The themes that came up during recording were often centered on motherhood and how familiar each friend was with Hannah’s art.

Hannah was profuse in her admiration of the people she brought into the room, how they shared job titles, empathy, and familiarity with each other’s creativity.

Yet, for all of that connection, there were still people in that room that, previously, had heard little of Hannah’s poetry.

I’ve been thinking of how blessed I have been in my ability to show up in all spaces in a uniform way.

Before, my communication students only knew me as a teacher, while poets only knew me as poets. Consider people you know who do art—what are their careers? What are their other passions?

The chances are higher than we may like to admit that these are difficult questions to answer.

With my own businesses, I’ve been able to incorporate my art with my profession and vice-versa. I have people who’ve never looked at a poem now using poems as communication tools. I also have poets thinking about concepts related to language and business.

A blessing takes sacrifice and intention. Sacrifice in that how I use poetry, language, and communication is not found elsewhere in any of those spaces. Intention because, despite the lack of familiarity in those areas, I create what can function in each space while using all aspects of me.

It takes work to ensure poets know I also do communication. It takes work to find ways for my communication students to find poetry a useful tool for their growth.

Though Hannah’s talk was more on motherhood and the comfort she was able to find with her friends, the lesson goes beyond * Full talk with Hannah Stephenson: https://youtu.be/dFZE1bTPQCs