ABOUT ALAYNA

LEADER OF META 4HOUSTON, Emanuelee bean, ALSO KNOWN AS “OUTSPOKEN BEAN”, And ALAYNA DAVIS AT POETRY SLAM WEEKEND AT THE HERITAGE SOCIETY

Alayna Davis is a senior attending the Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA) in the Creative Writing Department, concentrating in poetry and creative nonfiction. Both artist and advocate, Alayna works to bring positive change to communities with her writing. Recognized by Scholastic Art and Writing, Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, and more, Alayna seeks to grow her work by performing with The Heritage Society.

Alayna is Editor-in-Chief of her school’s newspaper, paper*, President of HSPVA’s Speech and Debate Team, and elected National Honor Society Chapter Vice President. She is currently teaching an online summer poetry elective for underprivileged students in Badaun, India, at the Asim Siddique Memorial Degree College, with plans to publish a collective anthology of students’ work in the Fall. 

ALAYNA DAVIS OPENED THE FIRST ACTIVITY FOR POETRY SLAM WEEKEND, A TEEN POETS COMPETITION

WOMEN’S EQUALITY DAY POEM

And On The Backs Of Our Mothers, We Call

for the waiting game to

sprint, so that this time,

we’re no longer lagging. 

for an apology. for some

kind of repentance. we shatter

glass ceilings but die 

from lead and arsenic tampons, we

are pushing strollers and

boundaries simultaneously,

ten steps ahead of our

colleagues to be measured

at a lesser pace, so why

run, why even begin to

crawl, we wonder, we

mine for an answer.

but there behind us

in the hot humid Houston 

haze, is our history:

in our grandmothers.

in our aunts. with their

children strapped to

chest height and a 

knowing look, that same

tired gaze, that unrelenting one.

they are the proud and beaten

ladders we have ascended 

to keep climbing, because on 

the backs of our mothers, we

were made strong enough

to march, and to call

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HOUSTON

Happy 188th, H-Town

And we found Houston’s birthmark. It was

in the mildew couch. Soaked through

hardwood floor, and ancient

picture frames. My sister’s

stuffed lion. Mama’s 

three-inch heels and slacks.

Most things turned brown,

like our house was only

a mere extension of the bayou, and

muck was all these carpets

were worth. As though

We were sitting on the roof

to relish graying clouds. Almost like,

the sewers turned to river were really

chocolate mines, and the whole city

turned their gaze to watch

daytime turn back west, when

overcast became silver lining, as though

Houston would recover, 

eventually.

We found its birthmark

in coworkers’ rain boots

and trash bags, packing swamp

remains away for the dump, and

between fissures of radio static from

the construction workers next door who

witnessed another process of

scrap and salvation, and inside

soup kitchens, we scoured and sifted

through all facets of pain, by

blue scrubs and white masks, we

collected joy like keepsakes and

in the eye of a hurricane, or

standing in its aftermath, 

another year of Houston has passed 

and we found its birthmark.

As seen in Swoon Memorial Magazine:

Poetry: A Creative and Expressive Way to Capture History

Poetry is literature that evokes a concentrated imaginative awareness of experience or a specific emotional response through language chosen and arranged for its meaning, sound, and rhythm. Historical poetry is a subgenre of poetry that focuses on depicting events from the past through artistic and poetic expression. This type of poetry often incorporates elements such as alliteration, assonance, metaphor, and simile to enrich the narrative and convey deeper meanings.

For example, these poems offer a glimpse into the rich cultural and historical tapestry of Texas:

·       “A Letter from Texas” by Townsend Miller: This poem, written in 1939, captures the essence of Texas through vivid descriptions of its landscapes and cities. It was commissioned by Stanley Marcus and became a cherished keepsake.

·       “Texas” by Arthur Chapman: This poem celebrates the vastness and beauty of Texas, highlighting its diverse landscapes and rich history.

·       “The Alamo” by Joaquin Miller: This poem recounts the famous Battle of the Alamo, paying tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of those who fought there.

·       “Texas Souvenir”: A collection of poems that delve into the scenery, people, and history of Texas.

The Heritage Society incorporates a poet in residence to transport the audience to a moment in time far away from today’s world. A poet in residence is a poet who is appointed to work within an institution, such as a school, university, museum, or other organization, for a specific period. The role typically involves creating poetry, conducting workshops, giving readings, and engaging with the community to promote the appreciation and understanding of poetry. They often produce new poetry inspired by their surroundings and experiences during the residency and may teach classes, lead workshops, and mentor students or aspiring poets.

“This will be our third year showcasing a poet in residence and we value them because they set the tone for our historic and cultural events.” The Heritage Society’s executive director, Alison Bell said. “These high school students go on to win awards and are accepted into some of the best colleges.”

“We recently hosted a Poetry Slam and workshop with WITS Houston and Meta 4 at our historic St. John Church, and Alayna Davis made her debut.” Bell said.

“Alayna will also be doing poetry performances online and is available to do opening for large scale events that are aligned with our mission.” Bell added. “We are grateful for our youth contributing to the creative story telling of Houston’s past.”