Getting to Know Usman Hameedi, Author of Staying Right Here

When did you first encounter poetry? How did you discover that you wanted to write poems?

I first encountered poetry when I was in elementary school and then got more exposure to it in middle school. I enjoyed it. Poetry assignments were fun. But that was it. It wasn’t until high school that poetry became an art and form of expression. That’s when many of the rules and traditions of poetry were transformed. I felt freer to use words to share my story in a way that felt less confined and rigid. I first encountered spoken word during my high school years, and it very literally changed my life. I remember being a young person and wanting nothing more than to write. I loved shaping my experiences into stanzas and metaphors. I wanted to learn and soak up all that I could. I remember going to slams, watching Def Poetry Jam videos on YouTube, and reading so much. I couldn’t get enough, and it felt so empowering to discover that poetry and I belonged together. I was then fortunate enough to go to Brandeis University, where my Dean of Students was also a legend in the poetry community. With his support, I became heavily involved in the collegiate scene and then continued in the adult scene after I graduated. I’ve been lucky enough to be nurtured by so many in my journey.

Those memories are all so important to me. So much so, that I wanted to become a Board member of Mass Poetry so that I could ensure that students could have those spaces as well. I’m really proud of the work that we do at Mass Poetry because it keeps those memories of mine alive and gives opportunities for so many to connect with poetry and creative writing like I have been fortunate enough to.  

Do you have a writing routine? A favorite time or place to write?

I used to say a specific time, a specific mood, or a specific location, but the older I get, I realize that it’s hard to predict if that exact setting will ever come. In fact, waiting for that perfect time ends up being a great way to procrastinate on writing. The best time is when you have a moment. If that ends up being at a crowded coffee shop, awesome. Sitting in the car waiting for your partner, amazing. Actual moment of peace and quiet, definitely get to work!

You just have to make time for it and prioritize it. This also helps me focus when I do have time. I dive into what needs to get done quicker since I know time is precious.

Where do your poems most often “come from”—an image, a sound, a phrase, an idea?

My poems come from observations. That relates to the senses as well as life events. For instance, “wow, people stormed the Capital of the United States, that’s a funny thing being a Muslim American who grew up in a post-9/11 world as a kid.” Or “Jackson Heights smells and is so crowded but now I miss it.”

I think of poems as experiments. Poems are ways we can investigate the things we experience and then derive meaning from those experiences.

Which writers (living or dead) have influenced you the most?

In no particular order: Saul Williams, Harlym 125, Porsha Olayiwola, Suheir Hammad, Mary Oliver, Agha Shahid Ali, Siddhartha Mukherjee, Jadakiss, Olga Broumas, Sidhu Moose Wala.

What excites you most about your new collection? (Significance of the title? Overarching themes? Process/experience of assembling it?) 

The fact that it exists excites me the most. It’s still surreal to find it in bookstores or on my friend’s bookshelf. I’ve also had friends who are teachers teach my poetry in their classrooms. They have forwarded their student responses, which have been so priceless. More than anything, I hope my book helps people be braver and give themselves a chance to share their own work, especially for people who are South Asian and trying to be their own representation. I also hope it opens new doors for me. Excited for the journey ahead!

---

---