poetry
Samantha, affectionately known as The Lady Griot, is most known to this world as an internationally-renown poet. A lover of poetry since a young age, she has been a bold, innovative contributor to this art form. Her verses are meditative and medicinal, her performances dynamic, versatile and unforgettable. In the decade that she lived as a poet in NYC, Samantha, a former poetry professor at The Juilliard School, has been invited to perform her poetry in South Africa, Budapest, Bermuda, Greece and elsewhere.
Samantha could not be confined to the stage. She broke out of her known limitations with her bold venture Poetry in Unexpected Places, which she co-founded with two other New York City poets. They began to perform poetry on subways and laundromats, a signal that poetry was for the people and it could be found anywhere to uplift the everyday person.
It excites Samantha to introduce poetry to uninitiated audiences, while still bringing a high level of craft to the occasion. She believes that poetry is for everyone, and her poetry is for whoever is in a frequency to receive her uncanny expression.
Samantha continues to travel the world with her healing mission to use her words to activate, inspire, and galvanize the creative center within each individual, her readings and workshops inviting people to take their power back.
"Break free from the mold
you made for yourself,
for the animal
in you that craves
routines like sugar,
addicted to the stress
of your comforts. Sling
your arm around the waist
of your discomfort
like it’s a new lover
in these uncharted
seas and distances
untraversed. Take
and give glee."
"You ushered out
the families who dreamed
where my head now rests.
Yesterday, I retrieved laundry
cleaner than bells, unmentionables
caressed by another’s
mother’s hands.
I sit on the up-
side of your coin,
drinking down the sky’s blue
dregs, while the teens I teach,
and the sturdy black
grandmothers I salute
with my seat,
kiss concrete."
"Patient tendril
in this swinging vine
life of mine,
you survive the winters
of my neglect
to teach me
to stretch my love
across seasons
and diversities
of curvature."
"So when you finally ask me
why is my daddy a faraway star? I’ll say
beloved, you were his most beautiful accident.
Blinded him with your big bang,
divine astonishment. Demanding
little angel who arrived unannounced
then remained. I know your father’s love
doesn’t feel like mine, but love
is like water, coming to us in multitudes."
featured in
The Craft of Poetry Workshop
Perfect for beginners and seasoned poets alike, in this immersive workshop, Samantha guides participants through the essential elements of poetic craft—imagery, tone, and voice—while nurturing each writer’s distinct creative signature. Through close reading, writing exercises, and gentle feedback, poets learn to refine their expression and deepen their relationship to the written and spoken word.
Virtual and In-Person Readings
Samantha brings poetry to life through performances that are intimate, electric, and soul-stirring. Whether online or in person, her readings weave storytelling, imagery, and intuition to create a shared experience of beauty and transformation. Audiences leave moved, reflective, and inspired to reconnect with their own creative fire.
Poetry Feedback & Editing
Refine your poetic voice with expert, artful guidance. Samantha offers in-depth feedback on your poetry manuscript—attending to language, rhythm, structure, and emotional resonance. Whether you’re preparing a chapbook or a full-length collection, she helps you elevate your work while preserving your authentic voice.