SPRING 2017 | ISSUE TWO
RUBY NAMBO Ruby Nambo, a sophomore secondary English major, has a quiet demeanor when you first meet her. She’s quick to smile and has a knack for remembering dates. …One sunny afternoon, I was in a circle full of young women, with similar interests. Normally, when I am around women, in general, I usually have a great time, along with being friendly. But, as I chill in the soft green grass, I decided to close my eyes and ask myself, “How often do these ladies get a ‘thank you’ for their existence?”…
Nambo started doing spoken word when she came to CWU last year and her first performance was an Open Mic Night in the Student Union and Recreation Center Pit. She then did the Showtime at Central event last year and got booed off the stage. She says that she thought maybe spoken word wasn’t for her after that experience. After taking a break from spoken word, Nambo received an email from Taylor Boteilho about being part of the first annual Women’s Poetry Slam last spring. Nambo asked herself if maybe this was a second chance for her. …From the moment that mi mama gave life to me to the mujer mentors that keep me going to achieve my dreams, I have never heard someone say, “Thank you for your existence.”…
Nambo says she felt welcomed when she was with the women participating in the Women’s Poetry Slam last year and got a lot of praise for the poem she performed. Spoken word has formed a lot of good relationships and given her many opportunities. Nambo continued her theme of speaking about women this year and decided to write a thank-you letter to all the women she’s met in her life. “My freshman year, I used to be really shy,” she says. “Now so many people know me, I will probably run into at least one person and they will say ‘hi’ to me. Maybe these poetry slams have paid off as a social aspect.” …To the women that are beautiful and confident, thank you. To the women leaders, you are powerful and thank you… 34
SELENA HERNANDEZ Selena Hernandez floats across the stage in a long black dress, her short brown hair framing her face. One arm raises the microphone to her lips, the other holds up her phone, and she starts reading. I’ve never been to the Grand Canyon, but I’ve seen the World’s natural wonder in her smile. Gap tooth filling my void, laugh lines running as deep as the Canyon’s history on either side of her cheeks All too late, I wonder if I had fallen through the cracks, My back on cherry-stained dirt, her iris on shifting skies…
Hernandez, junior creative and professional writing major, performed two pieces at the Women’s Poetry Slam: one called “Canyon” and the other, “To My Abusive Lover,” which is the first one she performed for a slam. She says she mostly focuses on more personal topics like relationships, sexuality, immigration and her childhood. …carried away the mystery of how she was made, and I do not care how she was made because she is here…
“My favorite thing about performing spoken word is feeling the audience’s presence when I am speaking on a lonely subject,” she says. “After a performance, people come up to thank me for sharing or tell me about how they related to the piece which makes me glad that I didn’t back out. It’s a nice reminder that we aren’t alone in our emotions and experiences.” Hernandez says the influence and weight of a poet’s words is what inspired her to start doing spoken word. …Bodies collide, I hold her like a prayer and I’m thanking God Her marbled statue disintegrates between my thumbs and through my fingers Over my shoulder, the river asks for release…
“I’m inspired by being a role model to someone like a little foster girl who most of the time is told ‘no’ but could see me, an ex-foster kid, now doing my thing and in turn inspiring her to prevail,” she says.