hika.

Fleischmann, a senior, is the author of “Fox News Prayer,” which will be included in our 2025 Fall Preview.

What inspired you to write this poem, (“Fox News Prayer”)?

Well, it was kind of in the moment because I wrote it last year during a Poetry Marker Night organized by WACK (Writers After Class at Kenyon). But I remember, I had recently read the screenplay for the Magic Flute, which is an opera by Goethe and because that play sort of partially centers on a major character who was depicted in this very God-like, powerful way, but never actually does anything that interesting or impressive. And it made me think of, like, because I also watched recordings of this for the class I was reading it for. And I think it made me ponder a lot about, like, stage presence and the idea of some sort of grandeur and how you can kind of make do with just that a lot of the time in terms of how you present yourself or someone else. And I was also thinking about Kamala Harris’ because this was last year (2024 Presidential Election). And I guess I just connected the two in my head. 

Why write about this topic in a poetic form? Is it just the form that stood out the most to you? Is it just the easiest? 

Well, I think I mostly write it in prose when I do creative writing, but,I think there is an emotional aspect to rhyme and rhythm, and to even just, like, the shape of a poem on the page that you can’t get out of normal poetry and prose. I think when I write prose, I want it to be organized, I want it to be not procedural. I feel like because poetry is something I write less, I allow myself to write it more organically. 

When we were reviewing this poem, we found it to be quite humorous. Did you intend to make it a bit satirical or is it supposed to be interpreted in a more serious manner? 

I think it would be a bad thing if someone interpreted this (“Fox News Prayer”) really seriously. It’s definitely supposed to be silly. Personally, when I think about Kamala Harris, I think of that one picture of her, like, looking at a cake, really, like…(enthusiastically) And I just can’t take her as like a political figure, like, super, emotionally seriously. And I think I feel that way about a lot of politics. So, I just think satire is always the best way to consume it. 

Why did you decide to call the poem “Fox News Prayer”?

I think the way a lot of, like, emotional newscasters lead their segments comes off in the same sense as like, like a superchurch, like a faith-leader in a room with like a thousand people in it just like saying crazy stuff. It’s almost like it gives you so much collective power, especially like live news over people at the moment that I think calling at church makes a lot of sense. I was thinking about the idea of Kamala Harris as a communist, because I thought it sounded funny in my head. Yeah. Like, rhythmically. And I was like, what? You know, this is the equivalent of like if I got onto a podium at a church and was just like: “Jesus was a fascist!” or something, like something crazy. Yeah. But if I say it loud enough and I have enough pizzazz, ultimately, anyone will go along with what I say.

If Kamala Harris runs in 2028, would you foresee her winning the election or how do you think that would go if, in your opinion, she were to run within the next few years?

If I had to be like, real, I don’t like any politician who continuously runs after losing. I think it’s such a bad precedent for them. I can’t imagine her winning a primary, (in 2028), honestly. I feel like her role in 2024 made her such a figure of passion to so many people, you know? And in all these different directions, like, so many who have really negative opinions of Kamala Harris. They really despise her. So many people, like, adore her and so many people don’t know anything about her. And I just can’t imagine someone who has such a disparate political appeal across their own party could really successfully win a primary in a way that would, like, make me feel confident about their chance in the full election. My opinion about Kamala Harris as an actual politician is that she’s fine. I don’t have any bad opinions about her. I mean, I’m from California. So, to me, she comes off almost insufficient. Like, I feel like she was always there. She’s never been in a political position where she had, like, genuine authority to, like, do crazy changes to, like, how the law or, like, how things work and people’s daily lives. You know, she just has never really had that much legal authority. I don’t have strong opinions about her. I just think it’s kind of, like, she comes off as like a normal person who people have, like, kind of funnily, strong opinions about. 

Do you intend to write more poetry that’s similar to this in a way, or is this just like a one and done poem that you wrote?

It’s funny. When I was considering what to submit, I was talking to my roommate, and I was like, which of these problems do you think is the best one? And they picked out the Kamala Harris one, “Fox News Prayer,” the one I came up with last year. (I think) it’s good to write about current events ultimately. I think it strikes a chord with people. Most of the poetry I’ve written, whether it’s like for a workshop or just like out of the goodness of my heart, has been, through varying levels, kind of silly. Because I don’t have a super dramatic life, so I choose to make it kind of funny instead. I wrote this because it felt poignant in the moment and it sounded funny, most of all. So, I don’t know, I haven’t written that many poems recently, but nothing, I mean, I would say that there are aspects of this home that are kind of similar to everything else I write. Especially the rhythm of it. Kind of. Or, like, some of the line structures. The actual, like themes, aside from like the comedic part, I haven’t ever really (covered). 

What other kinds of topics do you write about? 

I think the first poem I ever wrote for Kenyon, because I was in a poetry workshop, was about someone breaking my sandcastle as a small child. Or I would write poems about, like, moving houses or something. You know, like, I like specific personal things; I just like to have lyricism, that’s kind of my only requirement for when I write poetry, because I just want it to sound fun. 

Are you a Poli-Sci (Political Science) Major?

I’m an English major (with an emphasis in creative writing). I’m in advanced prose right now for my senior seminar. I’m also a German minor. I do stuff with Tabletop Club. And I think I just have a very normal existence. But, I’m not a Poli-Sci Major, though. That’s scary.