On campus or off, few wear as many hats as Humanities Professor Amanda Hayden. The mother of three is a proud educator, traveler, and Sinclair Community College’s Poet Laureate. For the wordsmith, this is the busiest time of the year as the semester draws to a close during National Poetry Month. Yet she still graciously gave her time to sit down with The Clarion and discuss life, the written word, and her many inspirations.
Since 2021, Hayden has served as Sinclair’s Poet Laureate, an honor that has seen her frequently promote writing and rub shoulders with some of the most decorated literary artists in the state. It is a position she has taken to naturally, one that has taken her writing to the next level. While many applaud and praise her work now, their origins date back to a childhood filled with a love of books and music.
“I love to write, I’ve been doing it since I was five years old,” she said. “That’s really what drove me to become a poet, that love of writing. While getting my degrees, I had many side projects that I worked on. Occasionally, I even did open mic and spoken word. But it was a while before I really got my work out there.”
She took the non-traditional route to becoming a poet and it has paid dividends. Not only is her work regularly published, but Hayden’s continued growth has made her an artist to look out for.
“I strive to bring complete authenticity to my work,” she explained. “My work tends to be vulnerable, transparent. I like to get to the marrow of things and write poems that are experience driven.”
The vast majority of her oeuvre is based on or inspired by things she has experienced, heard, or been close to. One series she is working on focuses on her many travels across the US, Europe, and India. Others, highlight her most important relationships. By drawing on her personal life, Hayden has been able to write powerful verses that are both genuine and odic. Writing, after all, is one way the artist has made sense of the world.
She advised aspiring poets to write and read as often as they can. Experiencing new things and getting out of your comfort zone is also highly recommended by the poet. Inspiration, according to Hayden, can come from anywhere.
“Growing up, I was fascinated by lyricism and symbolism. As a child of the 80s, I was able to connect with groups like Pearl Jam, Nirvana, and even Velvet Underground. A lot of my poetry was inspired by music.”
Looking back, Hayden said that time and effort shaped her into the person she is today. She advised aspiring artists to do the same.
“You don’t have to go out and be like Theroux. Write when you can, as often as you can,” she advised aspiring poets. “Cultivate and treasure that time even if it’s just five minutes squeezed in between meetings. You really have to make it happen in terms of time and consistency.”
Related article: Tartan Spotlight: Professor Amanda Hayden
Ismael Mujahid
Reporter