Remica L. Bingham-Risher made a stop at Longwood on April 3 to read to a few poems to an auditorium filled with eager students excited to hear her work. She comes from Phoenix, Ariz. but is an alumna of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va.
For most of the reading, she read from her most recent collection of poems, “What We Ask of Flesh.” It’s an intricate novel that pries at the historical and cultural boundaries that are placed on women. Bingham-Risher uses the female body to define feminism and the pride that women should have in their name.
There is one particular poem in this collection that used the vagina as a symbolic source of power and an embodiment of pride. Now, of course, a majority of people would double take at the idea of a poem revolving around genitals that is not supposed to be erotic.
But what Bingham-Risher did with this poem is bring the concept of what being female was down to a relatable level. She commented on how the female anatomy was always referred to with a sense of awkwardness or submissiveness. Her poem instead used it as a source of empowerment, something neither to be shied away from nor embarrassed about.
While listening to her poetry readings, it was obvious that Bingham-Risher is the kind of person who willingly opens up to people and revolves her conversations around everyone else but her.
This can be a great strategy for a creative writer to always be curious about everyone else’s story, and to find inspiration within it later on. With these simple, but nonetheless important practices, she sets a great example for aspiring writers.
Not only were Bingham-Risher’s poems powerful and important, but she’s also not from a city where rising stars generally come from. It’s empowering to see that someone from somewhere other than New York or California has gone out and made a big name for themselves, whether it be acting, writing, etc.
Bingham-Risher’s appearance and reading at Longwood was greatly enjoyed by everyone in attendance, and will have a positive effect on many aspiring writers.
