Episode One: Death Defying Feats

In the first episode of our show, we are stepping out with the remarkable and singular Dasha Kelly Hamilton. Dasha wields words to make magic happen, whether on stage herself, in writing sessions like Prose and Cons, or while chatting with co-host and historian Adam Carr. We’ll drop into one of her workshops at Racine Correctional Institute to hear how power can be rooted in humanity and expressed through poetry. Dasha says that most of the people who meet her didn’t know what they were getting into, so get ready. This is going to be good!

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In any listening app, or here on this page!

Episode Extras!

Meet Def Poetry Jam

In this episode, you get to hear a snippet from Dasha’s performance live on HBO’s Def Poetry Jam, hosted by Mos Def. enjoy this treat from the early 2000s, Dasha performing ‘6 million ways to die’ with the poet Dan Vaughn.

Making Magic

In this episode, Dasha shares some prompts to get the poetry juices flowing. Get a piece of paper and pencil and try them yourself:

What is something you quit for a good reason? It could be some place, someone, some idea..whatever comes to mind. Write three statements.

Describe a moment when you thought an opportunity or mindset was ‘too big for you.’

What has been your relationship with words? As a kid? As a teen? When you were at work? In your own time?

Meet Dasha!

When Dasha Kelly Hamilton was Wisconsin Poet Laureate (2021-22), she started an inclusive poetry exchange called A Line Meant. The website explains that “[o]ne line of poetry can work like a spell, conjuring a memory for one person and pulling gospel from someone else.” With single lines from published poems, she prompted people around the state to write new poems and, in the process, to connect with strangers. To make sure that everyone felt welcome to participate, there were options for people who didn’t or couldn’t use computers, including people in Wisconsin’s prisons.

Participants’ poems in response to the prompt were shared around the state and Dasha took lines from the submissions to create a collective poem. You can find the A Line Meant project prompts and collective poems here.

Meet Joshua

Joshua Wells is a poet and spoken word artist, a guitarist, a singer, and a songwriter. While he was in the Wisconsin prison system, he was part of Prose & Cons, a writing group led to Dasha Kelly Hamilton. Prose & Cons uses both written and spoken verse to restore voice to people who have been rendered voiceless.

Wells was asked to help lead the group and says about the experience. “I learned and gleaned far more from these amazing individuals than I could ever have given them. Their voices still echo throughout my own writing.” Since he has been released from prison, Josh has continued to carry the mission of Prose & Cons as he works to expand the program into communities in Wisconsin and beyond. He says he is driven by a belief that the power of poetry and narrative shared openly and honestly can reach hearts, change minds, and restore community.

➞ Listen to Joshua read one of his poems, “I hate the dark.”

Want more poetry!

In this episode you hear from some people who came to a special poetry workshop with Dasha. These guys met Dasha when they were inside, but she has stayed in touch with them and invited them to hang out and crate some new works. We are excited to share their poems with you!

ANDRON LANE

Andron’s personal mission is simple – “to give back and nurture the community he grew up in and loves.” An innovator as well as a fitness and mindfulness practitioner, Andron also launched his own business which focuses on individual goal setting, empowerment and health lifestyle choices. In this clip you will first hear a poem written by Andron Lane during a group poetry workshop lead by Dasha Kelly Hamilton. It is followed by Lane’s explanation of his thinking, and inspiration behind the message of his poem “I Know Why Tears Evaporate”.

CALIPH MUAB’EL

In this clip you will first hear a poem written by Caliph Muab’El during a group poetry workshop led by Dasha Kelly Hamilton. It is followed by Muab’El’s explanation of his thinking, and inspiration behind the message of his poem, ” I Know Why Geese Fly in the V Formation.” He spent 15 years of his life in prison, including 10 years in solitary confinement. Inspired by the direct impact of his experience, his career has been largely focused on mass-incarceration, the school-to-prison pipeline, police involved injustice, racial inequality, and violence prevention. Currently, Minister Muab-El is the President of All of Us or None Wisconsin, a grassroots effort, and is also a co-founder of multiple a violence prevention initiatives in the Wisconsin.

SERVANT VENTAE PARROW BEY

In this clip you will first hear a poem written by Servant Ventae Parrow Bey during a group poetry workshop led by Dasha Kelly Hamilton It is followed by his explanation and thinking, and inspiration behind the messages of his poem, “I Know Why We Create ‘The Most High’ in Our Own Image.” You can read his Love Wisconsin story here.

JEFFERY BODINE

Jeffery Bodine is a self proclaimed everyday spoken word poetry writer. He credits Dasha Kelly Hamilton for blessing him with her raw spoken-word-talent, and for unfolding his three powerful souls filled with a treasure of love, joy, inspiration, happiness, history and spoken words that you will always love. In this clip you will first hear a poem written by Jeffery Bodine during a group poetry workshop lead by Dasha Kelly Hamilton. It is followed by Bodine’s explanation of his thinking, and inspiration behind the message of his poem “I Know Why Rain Falls Upon the Ground”.

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Episode Credits

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