• Home
    Home 

  • Articles
    Articles 

  • Happenings
    Happenings 

  • Eksentriks
    Eksentriks 

  • Community
    Community 
  • Home
  • Asian Arts Magazine  ▾
    • News
    • Arts
    • Culture
    • Films
    • Literature
    • Music
    • Performing Arts
    • Photography
    • Poems
    • Stories
  • Artist Registry
  • Arts Community
  • Happenings

  • Sign In
  • Submit Stories & Poems
  • List Your Events
  • Be On Artist Registry

  • What Is Eksentrika?
  • Get In Touch With Us
  • FAQ
  • Join Our Monthly Newsletter
  • Eksentrika Facebook
  • Eksentrika Instagram
  • Eksentrika Twitter
  • Eksentrika Linkedin
  • Eksentrika Telegram
  • Start Writing
  • Asian Arts Magazine
  • Artist Registry
Arts & Culture Malaysia | Eksentrika
Eksentrika Login
“Poetry is a form of prayer,” Sheena Baharudin says
Charles Chiam

Written by Charles Chiam

“Poetry is a form of prayer,” Sheena Baharudin says

Share this article via


All images by Charles Chiam

“Prayers come from within and to articulate it is to share your soul. You beautify language to reach out, to spread good energy, and express hope that things will turn for the better,” spoken word poet Sheena Baharudin says to me.

We were talking to each other at a multidisciplinary spoken word poetry performance held to celebrate the release of two poetry books by Sheena and fellow poet Alana Azlan.

While Sheena’s All the Bodies We’ve Embraced was released in June this year, Alana’s A Female Called Psyche got its release this month. Published by Selut Press, both books document theology, philosophy and psychology through the eyes of two Malaysian women in the form of poetry and letters.

IMG 1754
Alana Azlan (middle) and Sheena Baharudin (right) share a light moment with spoken word poet and poetry educator, Elaine Foster.

Held at Twenty20Two and hosted by Numinous KL, the event was appropriately named “Love Letters to GOD”. And that was what got Sheena linking poetry with prayer.

“When thinking about the title for the event, a lot of the titles that we went through did not really stick, except for Love Letters to GOD,” Sheena says.

Held recently, the performance saw a mix group of talented artists showcasing their fluidity with the spoken word, wowing the audience with their craftsmanship of language.

IMG 1809
Supplementing their poetry with music, gestures and the occasional audience interaction, these beautiful poems ranged from the energetic to the slow-paced. Among the performers were Azizan ‘Afi, Dhinesha Karthigesu, Elaine Foster, Lily Jamaludin, Muslim Sahib, Axam Maumoon, Cheyenne Alexandria Phillips, Alana and Sheena.

With titles such as “For My Friends”, “Sonnet for How to be Good”, “Write”, “Dystopic Snowflake” and “Ulek Mayang”, all of them showed the performers’ souls and spirit, while sticking to the theme of humanity and divinity.

“As you explore reading and writing poetry, you begin to notice similarities between poems and holy scriptures. The most noticeable is their use of poetic devices,” Sheena explains to me.

How I see it; when a spoken word poet comes on stage with the intention of connecting to people, they become an instrument of the Divine.”

Sheena believes that the stories we tell are not based on things that happened when you are writing in your room. It happens when we are out there, looking at the faces around us, getting to know them and telling stories that hopefully touch them.

“Even if the poem touches only one person in the whole room, that is more than enough.”

IMG 1834
It is this theme of human connection and establishing close relationship with fellow humans that inspired the title for Sheena’s book, All the Bodies We’ve Embraced.

“It’s about connecting with all those I meet, and the hugs I give if they let me. I like hugging,” she quips, laughing.

Sheena’s understanding of god is in itself a nice blend between Sufism and to a certain extent, Pantheism.

“Whatever is right that come from you, is an inspiration from the Beloved,” she says.

When you share stories, it becomes more than just about you. You communicate with those who share a similar experience and find a spiritual bond with them. Everything is godly. You absorb it all, and share it via storytelling.”

She further adds that god should not be used as a tool or an excuse to control the masses.

“When you say ‘God wants you to do this’, or ‘God forbids you to act this way’, are you really speaking on behalf of God, or merely enforcing your values on others?

“In a way, spoken word performances is a response to such attitude. Within the sacred space of a performance, the poets can express themselves without being judged.”

IMG 1720

Dubbed a Muslim feminist, Sheena says most of her poems talk about the female experience.

“I am critical of the conservative views on religions, especially in regards to the treatment of women. I speak as a female, of femininity, and its divinity. I am a woman speaking out against the limited interpretation of religions.”

Sheena Baharudin’s All the Bodies We’ve Embraced can be purchased here while Alana Azlan’s A Female Called Psyche can be obtained here. Follow Sheena on Instagram and Facebook. Want to know more about Sheena? Check out a previous feature we wrote on this amazing poet! If you are interested in podcasts on spoken word performances, or keen to keep track on upcoming performances, you can follow Poet X on Facebook and Instagram. 

Tags: Alana Azlan, Numinous KL, Selut Press, Sheena Baharudin, Twenty20Two
Sheena Baharudin

Contribute to Us

We accept short stories, poems, opinion pieces, and essays on a complimentary basis.

SUBMIT

Other Stories You May Like

An exhibition of Tan Chi Mui's Just Because You Pressed the Shutter?

Tan Chui Mui’s Stunning Artwork Takes Center Stage at Rencontres d’Arles

Eksentrika

klsp and bentley music academy scaled

How KLSP makes Shakespeare More Fun and Entertaining for Children and Adults in KL

Ista

thuy girls like me dont cry Remix ft MIN

You Need To Listen To This Women Empowerment Remix By Two Vietnamese Pop Idols

Eksentrika

Brazilian Zouk Socials 2

Why Passionate Malaysian Dancers are Reviving the Cadence of Brazilian Zouk Dance

Rachael Lum

Rimbun Dahan Malaysia

Here’s Why Rimbun Dahan is a Limitless Opportunity Arts Residency in Malaysia

Marco Ferrarese

test2

8 Malaysian men unveil their unique Malaysian “His Story” on KLPAC’s stage

Eksentrika

About Eksentrika

Eksentrika is an arts community and an online Asian arts magazine with an artist registry. Join us to get inspired and find Asian artists here!

Quick Links

  • About Eksentrika
  • Contact Us
  • F.A.Q.

Join Our Newsletter

 


All Rights Reserved © 2021 Eksentrika | By eJeeban Web Design Company

  • Eksentrika Facebook
  • Eksentrika Instagram
  • Eksentrika Twitter
  • Eksentrika Linkedin
  • Eksentrika Telegram