Just My Poetry

Hello! My Name is Farris Syed Bukhari. I’m 27 years old and I’ve been writing poetry casually for almost my whole life.

When Athena first approached me with the opportunity to go out to venues and farmers markets to meet people and write commissioned works--or even begin to sell pieces--I admit that I was slightly skeptical. I didn’t have an idea how much people generally liked my writing, but I’ve had friends and family say tell me that I have a distinctive style and I knew there was no harm in at least trying to see what I could bring to the table.

When we started out in Bloomington I was already nervous the whole drive. What if people didn’t like my writing? What if I didn’t have time to finish a piece? All these questions and more subsided overtime as I was reminded through events that I wasn’t alone.

I found that those who worked around me helped to bring out the artistic side that I use for my writing, for all those curious to see.

I also felt more secure in knowing that I’ve been lucky to start working with other writers like me that are passionate about the craft.

Farris Bukhari (pictured right) talks with a patron and prepares to type a poem

I started to talk with the locals of Bloomington, learning about what some of them like to see in poetry or what kind of poem they would like me to create. It was not only a fun experience but an educational one.

I learned that people want to see more of my writing, that it’s enjoyable, and interactive. The most important takeaway for me on this first day however, is that people enjoy my writing and have an active interest in it, not just from glancing at it in an instagram post, but actual people wanting my writing to be in their homes, given to their loved ones, or just simply for themselves because it means something to them.

With this new perspective made clear to me by the first day of being out and selling, it made me optimistic for the second.

In Urbana, we succeeded in getting a spot set at the farmers market. This venue duration was longer than Bloomington's from the day before, and I was feeling ecstatic from the previous day's interactions.

We were set up by 7:30AM and the next 3 and a half hours consisted of many people coming to inquire about commissioned poems. While I can’t specifically recall each poem in detail that I wrote, I can remember the people I've written for quite easily, the stories of so many bonds between humans or pets, memories and stories significant to each individual being, this became the true reason for my enjoyment of commissioned pieces.

Writing in the moment for people that I have the privilege to speak to through this venture has inspired optimism within both me and my writing, this congeniality has challenged my writing to adapt in ways i didn’t anticipate, and I’m looking forward to seeing what more smiles and art I can help bring to the people with fellow artists in my circle and traveling with me!