Every Day To See

Nikki Giovanni (June 7, 1943 – Dec. 9, 2024)

I see this picture of me and The Poet every day.

It’s on my bookshelf

In my living room

With my loved ones’ photos.

I’m sure Nikki Giovanni didn’t have a photo of me in her house.

Nor did she think our “chance” meeting was seismically shifting.

The year was 2013. November. I don’t remember the day. And my producer friend Sasheen had orchestrated for me to be an audience of one when Nikki Giovanni appeared on my former boss, talk show.

Nikki was there on the The Tavis Smiley Show to promote her 39th book (by my count.)

Me? I was a volunteer creative writing teacher at a girls prison struggling to justify why I should keep writing.

My novel’s sales weren’t exactly motivating. My unemployment status didn’t incite inspiration. And I looked well, but unbeknownst to many, I was fighting a health issue.

But on that day, I was all smiles, because I was meeting my literary shero. And we didn’t get to connect for long, but I got the chance to tell her that I performed her poem, “Ego Tripping” to teach my girls how to transcend the barbed wires of the detention camp with the power of poetry.

And somehow…during that short walk from the make up chair to the studio…I also got to tell Nikki how she inspired me to become a writer and how poetry — hers specifically — was the roux that cemented my foundation as a storyteller.

Nikki smiled, autographed her book and graciously agreed to take this picture with me.

Then, The Poet did something I wasn’t expecting — She gave me her card and said she would love to read my novel, “Address: House of Corrections.”

Fam, of course, I was fan girling out. But I’m also nothing if not obedient, so I did as I was asked and mailed my novel to Nikki pronto.

Now, I’ve been in this business long enough not to take people at their word. And I appreciated Nikki Giovanni asking to read my novel, but I was under no delusions that she ever would.

Then, to my surprise, two months later — I received this:

What a blessing to be read by Nikki! I can’t even explain what it meant for The Poet to take time out of her busy schedule to give me feedback, offer guidance and send me words of encouragement.

It was just the nudge I needed to publish “Nana’s Fridge,” a children’s book I initially wrote only as a gift for my nieces. I couldn’t wait to send it to Nikki as a gift for the children in her life.

And true to her teacher’s heart, she responded back to me with this:

Again, my heart smiled.

Folks tell you, Fam, to never meet your heroes. But in all my years, I’ve been blessed to be in the presence of literary sheros.

I’ve…

Interviewed Toni Morrison.

Shook hands with Maya Angelou.

Sat next to Sonia Sanchez.

Taken classes at the same community college as Octavia Butler.

But to be seen by Momma Nikki who’s now with the ancestors

Her taking time out out of her 81 years on this earth

To write me a note

Put a stamp on an envelope

And mail it to me

Has forever secured her place in my heart

and on my bookshelf

In my living room

With my loved ones’ photos

For me every day

To see.