Dessa (Courtesy of Zoe Prinds-Flash Photography)

Dessa (Web | Twitter) is a singer and spoken word artist from Minneapolis, MN, and also a member of the hip hop collective Doomtree. She is the author of four books of poetry including Spiral Bound (Doomtree Press: 2009) and A Pound of Steam (Rain Taxi Press, 2013). Dessa is an immensely talented artist, and if you’re interested in seeing her perform, check out her recent reading at the Walker Art Center.

The following comes from Mr. Will Moore who met Dessa when, in spring 2013, she visited St. John’s College. When asked how the famed singer responded to his request, Moore said, “She was very pleased to draw a giraffe for us.”

What an eloquent story for such an elegant giraffe.