Kari Gunter-Seymour & Britnie

Here at "The Anna Jinja Show," we believe that belonging isn't just found, it's actively created. It's in the connections we forge, the values we embrace, and the experiences that shape us. And sometimes, the most profound sense of belonging comes through the power of story.  In our latest episode, host Anna Jinja welcomes a truly remarkable voice: Kari Gunter-Seymour, the Poet Laureate of Ohio and an Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowship recipient. A ninth-generation Appalachian and the driving force behind the Women of Appalachia Project, Kari's work illuminates the often-unseen corners of human experience with both strength and profound solace.  

This episode delves into the heart of storytelling and collaboration, sparked by a unique workshop that paired participants with artists. While one participant, Britnie, couldn't join us for the recording, her powerful insights and story are central to our conversation. Britnie, who beautifully articulates her dual Filipino and Jamaican heritage, offers a compelling perspective on the theme of "adoption" – not just in the traditional sense, but in how we actively choose the people, values, and even the language that become a part of us. 

As Britnie shared, "I pick up my friends' language, and it becomes a part of me... Saying a word brings back memories of people I've known before."  Kari shares her initial reaction to Britnie's narrative and the inspiring process of collaborating to create a piece that resonated with Britnie's experience. Even in her absence, Britnie's voice shines through as Kari recounts the elements of her story that were most impactful and how they navigated the creative journey together.  

This episode is a testament to the connective power of stories, the beauty of collaboration, and the profound truth that each of us deserves to feel seen, heard, and deeply loved. Britnie's story, woven through Kari's artistry, reminds us that our chosen connections and adopted influences profoundly shape who we are.

Creative Content: 

When Aunt Fanny Says the Blessing  by Kari Gunter-Seymour for Britnie     

We Know Dinner Will Have to Wait
Bless the grandeur of this day,
the ground embroidered beneath our feet,
bumblebeed dandelions throwing wide 
their sun-soaked faces, 
the redbuds loosing purple pearls.

Bless Bess who feeds us, 
apron dusted in flour and sass, 
room for all at her table.

Bless the guests—word weavers
and musicians, carpenters
and miners, farmers, and yes, 
bless the amber waves of grain.

Bless the refugees and asylum seekers,
the holy-rollers and agnostics.
Bless the truckers and teachers,
searchers and preachers,
the envelope stuffers, 
the ones who dig the graves.

Bless the school bus drivers,
the subway riders,
bicyclers and joggers,
truth-tellers and tongue-wagglers.
Bless scientists and nurses,
tech nerds and birders, 
elders who pen their prophesies 
in careful cursive.

Bless every they/them, he/him, 
zi/zir, it/its, she/her, xe/xem—
rural to inner city,
the thick skinned, the thinner,
the bronzed and pale,
the tattooed and pierced,
those anxious to speak, those afraid. 

Bless the pulse takers, 
the bush shakers, the star gazers
and praise raisers.

Listen—
whippoorwill reminds us 
pain is truth and grace is strength. 
Let these words open us, 
reveal the worth of all our bones.