The light of the sun finds its way through the small hole in the ceiling, turning the water bright and blue. A sharp contrast to the otherwise dark cave, with limestone walls that seem to enclose you in a tight, cold grip. Stalactites have formed over thousands of years, and plants have started to grow from the opening of the cave, cascading into the water. The air is damp with the earthy scent of rock and minerals, it pulls you in.

By Nicole Roché

On the morning of October, 11, 2018, poet and essayist Hanif Abdurraqib spoke with students on the St. Lawrence University campus, where the subjects ranged from Kanye West to Black Lives Matter to Abdurraqib’s extensive sneaker collection. After the Q&A, Nicole Roché, who teaches a class about storytelling and identity in the first-year program at St. Lawrence, interviewed Abdurraqib about his work and about his experiences talking with young people in America.