Jaimeson Oakley
Poetry | Kent State University | Class of 2023
In his poetry compilation, Jaimeson Oakley seeks to examine intimacy through various modes of the human experience, among these themes are familial lineage, gender, weather and global warming, space, and grief. It is a coming-of-age collection that grapples with what it means to become a more sustainable self while reveling in the nothingness of the moment. His project is a result of the times we all find ourselves in, and ultimately strives to comfort the anxious souls of our tumultuous era.
About Jaimeson
Jaimeson Oakley is a poet from Lucasville, Ohio. His writing can be described as mysterious and melancholic, with an attention to nature and mysticism. You can find some of his recent hybrid work in Sonora Review. He has a cat named Sinister who wouldn’t hurt a fly but definitely would bite an ankle.
JAIMESON'S FAST FACTS
What’s on your nightstand right now?
“How to Do Nothing” by Jenny Odell and “The Prophet” by Kahlil Gibran
Do you have any eccentric habits/strategies to get you started writing? What are they?
Getting out of my head and into my body by working out, but my favorite thing to do is put on headphones and dance like nobody’s watching. If I’m feeling overstimulated and need more of a chill way to start writing then I usually either try to do some breathing exercises or put on my headphones and listen to pink noise (kudos to Mary Biddinger for the tip).
Your advice to an incoming MFA student?
Read as much as you can, and be immersed in all of it. Be open to new ways of thinking, interpreting, and writing. Above all, stay true to you and your voice, while encouraging others to do the same. Three years is certainly a chunk of time but not nearly as long as you think—savor every moment.
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English Department
Cleveland State University
2121 Euclid Ave., RT 1815
Cleveland, Ohio 44115