Writer leads library crowd in trying freestyle poetry

Right from the start of Kevin Coval's visit to the Arlington Heights Memorial Library last week, patrons knew they were in for something different.

It was not going to be a traditional reading of his work, combining poetry and hip-hop, like the promo-piece had suggested. When he urged the group to move their chairs into a more intimate circle, they had no idea what to expect next.

The fun continued when Coval asked them to get out some paper and make a list. He directed them to write down specific items, from their favorite number and color, to a movie or book that had moved them, or a place they go to meditate.

From there, they selected one item to concentrate on and try their hand at writing freestyle poetry. He had them hooked.

Coval is something of a rock star in the Chicago cultural scene. He is founder of the "Louder Than a Bomb" youth poetry festival and the artistic director for Young Chicago Authors.

During the last 20 years, he has inspired thousands of young writers, including Chance the Rapper, who wrote the forward for Coval's newest book, "A People's History of Chicago."

In writing the book's first two pages, the rapper described Coval as his "artistic father" and the first person to mentor him and make him feel as if his art was "real."

"He took me out of that space and made me understand what it is to be a poet, what it is to be an artist, and what it is to serve the people," Chance wrote.

Library officials invited Coval as one of their featured writers during National Poetry Month.

Stavroula Harissis, a teen specialist at the library, booked Coval because of his broad appeal, especially among young people. Ironically, the group at his presentation was more adults than teens.

"I like to read hip-hop lyrics," said Krissy Singer of Arlington Heights. "They read like poetry and look poetic on paper, but I've never tried to write it myself."

In opening the presentation, Harissis said she hoped meeting Coval and hearing his work would convince people to try their hand at poetry.

"We hope this inspires you to write a poem, or attend one of our open mic nights," Harissis said, "or maybe see poetry and hip-hop in a different light."

Coval says poetry, even hip-hop poetry, comes down to writing and sharing stories.

He read two poems from his book, "The BreakBeat Poets: New American Poetry in the Age of Hip-Hop," which is described as the first poetry anthology by and for the hip-hop generation.

The first one, "Ode to the First White Girl I Ever Loved" by Jose Olivarez, seemed to resonate with the audience. It was a personal story of loneliness and not fitting in amid his Calumet City neighborhood and school.

Coval said his love of poetry started with listening to family stories around the dinner table.

"When I combined what I heard at family table with what I was hearing on my Walkman and boombox, they began to congeal," he said. "I developed this appreciation of the narrative and of the sound of language and how music plays into it."

He chafes at the notion hip-hop as an art form came into the mainstream after the huge popularity of the musical "Hamilton," though he concedes hip-hop does take well-entrenched stories and retells them in a new and creative way.

Hip-hop, he said, resonates most with young people, who are in the midst of creating a cultural revolution and "changing the way the world gets down."

"We have to create a space for voices that are authentic and at the dominant center," Coval said, "and hear from a truly inclusive society."