Lyrical Prose Brought to Life by Rising Poet

By Asia Atuah

(Credit: Riley Elizabeth Beard)

The 7,500th Psalm
When Aziza Allen, a graduate student working towards her MBA, with a focus in International Business, walked across the stage to perform her poem, The 7,500th Psalm – recently published book, “Whole”, in hand, exuding confidence – the crowd cheered with excitement. Even towards the end of the event, when Allen read her poem, the energy from the audience continued to be immense.

Allen said that performing this poem during the Poetry Slam was extremely special, because it has to do with betrayal, and I’ve reached a new level of forgiveness from that betrayal.

“So, I’m so excited to share this with you out of this new place in my heart,” Allen said as she continued to perform a poem that left the audience silent from captivation, until the very end.

As she took a deep breath, Allen expressed a poem about abusive relationships, betrayal, growth and finding your own song. This poem, like many of her others, aimed to take really hard moments, and make them palpable by using the metaphors of birds’ nesting and songs, to soften the harshness of the message.

Although the intense topic of abuse has a strong presence in this poem, Allen reminded the listeners that if you’re stuck in that place, there is so much space to grow.

“You become, essentially, a new person…and retain your softness, in the midst of a harsh moment, like abuse,” she said.

Allen left the crowd with the optimistic message: “I am still a psalm, so I open up my pages and sing a song to the woman who will need it next.”

This poem offered listeners encouragement to find their voice, their song and “spread their wings.”

This uplifting vibe, however, was not solely found in this one poem. It resonated throughout the voices of all the poets that night.

Arguably, that feeling started before you even entered the room.

A Rose, For A Rose
Setting the stage for an atmospheric night, individuals were warmly welcomed into the US Bank Conference Theater, located in the Ohio Union, to experience the Lift Every Voice Poetry Slam: Elevate, Articulate, Uplift. Gifted to all as they entered the room was a single, delicate, red rose. Gracing the floor of the space were individual rose petals.

Even before basking in the wonderous melody of each poet’s inner song, guests at this event were mesmerized by the warm ambiance, which truly manifested the theme of the 41st Annual African American Heritage Festival: Uplift. Whether you were performing or not, you felt a great sense of community and encouragement.

The Poetry Slam, hosted by award-winning spoken word poet and poetry author Rudy Francisco, consisted of four performances by poets in pairs, followed by nine individual performances. Among these poems were themes of self-acceptance, love, masculinity, relationships and humor.

Along with the poets reciting their pieces, there was a musical performance that featured the saxophone and the trumpet, a ballet/hip-hop dance performance, a fun guess-the-lyric game for audience members during an intermission and original poems were read by Rudy Francisco himself.

As one of the co-chairs for the event, Jakini Ingram started the night off by reading an excerpt from the Smithsonian, which stated that “the spoken word occupies a central and indispensable position in African American history and culture…and as an art form, the word has conveyed itself forcefully and dramatically by drawing on the rich African American musical heritage.”

This introductory statement paved the way for a night full of expression and passion from all present in the space.

To highlight a particularly moving performance, poets Attiyya Toure and Aziza Allen tackled a fairly painful subject – R. Kelly’s effect on the black community. For them both, after tons of research, reviewing comments, watching old music videos and viewing the 6-part docuseries, Surviving R. Kelly.

Allen said the focus of this poem became placing black women and black girls’ voices at the forefront of the discussion which was prompted by the feeling that what it is like to be a black woman in these circumstances hasn’t been properly addressed.

Finally, towards the end of the event, a panel of judges chose first, second and third place winners for the poetry slam competition, awarding them special gifts, but making sure every poet who performed was awarded for their outstanding work, by giving them gifts as well. This ending act really brought back the idea of uplifting full circle.

Allen, the first place winner of the competition, isn’t new to this idea of uplifting.

Whole

Allen’s exposure to poetry stemmed from the first poem she ever wrote, titled “For You Chloe,” in which Allen addressed what the world does to young, black, female children.

Allen said that this 10-minute-long poem represented the feeling of her being so angry and fed about certain situations that she just had to speak about it.

This could not ring more tue, as Allen has crafted an entire book, titled “Whole,” of her poetry, which addresses substantially vulnerable moments of her life, while keeping grounded in a focus of empowerment.

The writing process requires a lot of inner experience for Allen and takes time.

“It’s difficult for me to write a poem that I haven’t felt through, that I haven’t experienced fully and totally, that I haven’t processed,” she said.

Allen said the poetry she writes and speaks has developed in her brain, heart and soul.

Unlike the crafting of the poetry, the themes for her pieces come on a whim, recurring theme of women.

“Honestly, whatever I’m going through in the moment, that’s what’s relevant to me,” Allen said.

For Allen, her book is a culmination of all aspects in her life that define her, which often struggle to coexist.

“In so many spaces…you never feel like you can bring your whole self to the table. And so, poetry was a way to bring all parts of myself – my sexuality, my intellectuality, my different passions, my love life – to the table. [They] were able to exist within poetry,” Allen said.

“We, Not Me”

Along with the unique inclusion of raw and unedited journal entries created during moments of prayer and reflection, Allen has placed a devotional alongside every poem, achieving the purpose of explaining what the poem truly means for the reader.

“They’re present as a means of moving forward from the pain, and the brokenness and the heartache,” Allen said.

One can find Allen’s pieces highly relatable, as she crafts her poems in the collective sense.

“I recognize that my trials and my tragedies are universal. It’s we, not me,” Allen said.

“Life Is So Messy”

Aziza excels at elevating her audience, both through spoken and written word. For her, this means sacrifice.

“When you embrace someone and you push them higher, it’s at the expense of your own strength, of your own energy…and I think there’s a sort of selflessness that has to come with uplifting and empowering other people,” she said.

This isn’t easy. Spreading a message that gives other a voice and articulating the trials of our lives requires transparency. It demands contemplation and exposure of your own experiences. For Allen, this could not be possible without God.

“Life is so messy…I needed a place for solace. [My] place for confiding is with the Holy Spirit,” Allen said.

Before she can express herself to the world, Allen feels she must do this internally, through God.

“I have to show up and be vulnerable vertically, before I can do that horizontally,” she said.

“Do It Afraid”

Like most would be, when it came to publishing her poetry collection, Aziza was terrified. The book carries the intimacy of her life’s story, that of which makes her largely exposed to the reception of a judgmental world.

“The culture now is cancel culture…meme culture…the culture now attacks vulnerability,” Allen said.

The potential for Allen to become a well-established poet lies in her ability to provide what people often need most – motivation to push forward.

“Do it afraid,” Allen said, with absolutely no hesitation. Allen sees the value in following your passion and expressing your voice, despite your fears.

What’s To Come
Before developing any future plans, Allen sees a lot of room for herself to grow.

“I’m just coming into myself...I feel like an adolescent, like a teenager, just hitting puberty,” Allen said.

This, however, doesn’t change the three facts about herself that Aziza is certain.

“My name is Aziza, and that means beloved…I’m brave…and to other people, I’m a bridge,” Allen said.

Allen’s goal is to uplift, to help people come into themselves and realize the purpose in their lives.

When performing her poetry, Allen not only uses the grace and presence found in the delivery of spoken word poetry from her favorite poet, Alysia Nicole Harris, but also within her own personality.

By exemplifying an emotive attitude and disposition, Allen does what she loves most about spoken word poetry.

“My favorite part about spoken word, or what I think makes it so great of a communication tool, is the ability to show up, distinctively, authentically, completely yourself,” Allen said.