Safiya Sinclair discusses Natalie Diaz's poem 'From the Desire Field' & her own 'Gospel of the Misunderstood' on the New Yorker Poetry Podcast. They explore magical imagery, themes of desire, and the influence of Jamaican heritage on poetry.

Safiya Sinclair, a Jamaican-American poet and author of "How to Say Babylon," shares her journey of growing up in a Rasta family in Montego Bay. She discusses the intertwining of personal identity with Jamaican national history and the Rastafari movement's influence on her upbringing. Safiya reflects on the power of poetry for self-discovery and breaking free from familial expectations. She also explores themes of gender roles, the balance of agency and submission, and the impact of storytelling in shaping aspirations.

Safiya Sinclair, a poet and writer raised in a devout Rastafari family in Jamaica, opens up about her transformative journey. She describes cutting her dreadlocks at 19, which severed her connection with her father and marked her quest for identity. Sinclair shares how poetry became her healing outlet amidst childhood struggles and isolation. She contrasts her cultural upbringing with her experiences in America, exploring themes of autonomy, familial dynamics, and the vibrant community of black women in hair salons.