Modern poetry and spoken word has grown to become not only an elevated art but an avenue for people to also elevate themselves through expression. Our latest Flow Feature is the wonderful Hayah. A woman that is all about living her life in her own truth which we have had the privilege of witnessing on stage and now we get a deeper insight into the inspirations behind this unforgettable artist. We’re doing what we do best and discovering more about the woman behind the words that is Hayah. Who is Hayah? An individual of freedom, Hayah describes herself as an introverted creative that slowly emerged from her shell using poetry. She started writing in 2019 and was fairly new to the poetry community before her friends introduced her to Flo Vortex, a popular poetry event founded by the Floacist. What began as writing as a way to express herself eventually turned into her exploring the world of spoken word and taking her writings to the stage. She admits that it has been a beautiful journey becoming a part of the poetry community and has seen how more self-reflective she can be in her writings. We’re all human, and I love being able to explore myself within this realm as well as others. Hayah As someone that feeds off the positive energy of others, Hayah realised that writing and poetry started to reveal a new confidence in her that she didn’t necessarily have in more casual conversations. As she became more familiar with the London poetry community she found more and more safe spaces to express herself in the ways that she wanted to. Inspired by themes such as nature, corruption, and the workings of the system, each performance is like an artistic form of education that many spoken word poets have the ability to do effortlessly. Poetry reminds me of who I am. It’s allowed me to set boundaries that protect my energy. Hayah What is the story behind Hayah Pokes? Body art has always been an important part of Hayah’s life. Once she decided that she wanted to be a tattoo artist herself she discovered that the tattooing industry can be very egotistical and competitive. She launched Hayah Pokes three years ago, but when she looked for guidance on how to develop her skills she was often met with rejection and negative comments from other tattoo artists which forced her to find her own lane. Inspired by ancient techniques, Hayah tattoos her clients by hand whilst also getting to know more about herself and those that she has the pleasure of working on. Hayah Pokes is more than a business to this creative, it has become a way for her to share her knowledge with others instead of harbouring it. People always express to me when I’m working on them, and this has taught me a lot about how to deal with the emotional and physical pain of others. Hayah Taking a step back from poetry to focus on growing Hayah Pokes, Hayah has set up a workshop to teach others the same hand poking techniques that she uses on her clients. Her tattoo workshops focus on the history of the techniques, learning about different types of skin and how to tattoo yourself before learning how to tattoo others using fake skin. She provides an intimate and unique experience for those who want to start taking tattooing to a new level. What should we be looking out for in future? With the success of Hayah Pokes, Hayah will be releasing a range of merchandise including hoodies and t-shirts with designs that are similar to her tattoos before the year ends. Influenced by new found perspectives in life and the process of exchanging old energy for new, the creative is back to writing more introspective pieces that we may be hearing sooner rather than later as she plans to release new work in different forms. I’m hoping to start recording my EP and working on a new book soon. Hayah Although nothing has been confirmed it’s safe to say that everything Hayah has coming our way will represent the incredible artist that she is. We look forward to seeing what’s next and you should look forward to her coming to a stage near you. For more information on how to book a workshop or body art with Hayah Pokes, you can reach out to Hayah via Instagram. Creative Director & Writer: Tannika Taylor @tannikataylor Photographer: Matty @mattys.gallery Cover Design: Simplexity @simplexitycc
Tag Archives: poetry community
Four Poetry Collections Every Poet Should Own
We have gathered four poetry collections by four exceptional poets that you should know about and dive into next year. 4. Helium Rudy Francisco’s ‘Helium’ is what all poetry collections aspire to be: memorable. Somehow, Rudy’s anthology manages to be thought provoking, resonant, occasionally funny, and incredibly honest. The award-winning poet skilfully addresses an array of relatable themes, including self-esteem, mental health, love, and trauma, with an artistic flair that compliments each poem delightfully. Francisco’s stunning use of metaphor is both majestic and admirable, and will have readers returning to select poems with hope of discovering new meaning with each individual read through. 3. Heterogeneous Anthony Anaxagorou’s ‘Heterogeneous’ is quite literally the literary embodiment of a powerhouse poetry collection. The 224-page anthology features poetry from the eminently gifted Anaxagorou on a wide array of pertinent subjects that range from politics and oppression to love and relationships. Anaxagorou combines a candid and forthright approach with a studious and eloquently artistic style to create a reading experience that lingers in the mind long after the final poem is read. 2. Medusa Wore a Weave ‘Medusa Wore a Weave’ is the debut collection from rapper and spoken word artist, Tommy A-Man Evans, and collects some of the wordsmith’s best work. Evans, known for his superb lyricism and intellectually driven wordplay, manages to adapt his work for the page in seamless fashion without compromising the integrity of his refreshingly unique and piquant style of poetry. As a result, the reader is treated to an extraordinarily well-written collection that is as much a glimpse into the author’s mind as it is a lesson in structure and storytelling. 1. Postcolonial Banter The debut anthology from Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan, ‘Postcolonial Banter’, is as strikingly evocative as it is felicitous, collecting some of the 2016 Roundhouse Poetry Slam semi-finalist’s greatest work to date, such as ‘British Values’ and ‘This is Not a Humanising Poem’, along with many anthology exclusives. The author’s keen sense of purpose and altruistic motivation remains present throughout the collection, which features poetry on a variety of relevant topics including politics, oppression, and identity, and firmly establishes the writer as one of the most accomplished, and equally uncompromising, contemporary poets. Written by: Liam Spencer