slam poets

I have neglected to update for a while, so I will tell you what I've been doing.

Tonight my brother was talking to me about poetry. He had an assignment to write a short narrative piece and was having a hard time deciding what to do. As a rule, he does not like or understand what he calls 'English major' poetry. Occasionally after one of my literature classes I'll have him read what we've been studying; I think I've subjected him to some T. S. Eliot and Hart Crane. We've argued (or rather, discussed) differing opinions on the worth of work like theirs. Earlier I made him read a few Shakespeare sonnets and a Robert Frost piece called 'Stars' so he could understand something about different forms and et cetera. He ended up writing about a sailor in old spain. After, I youtube'd up some of my favorite slam poets--Taylor Mali, Katie Makkai--to show him that not all poetry lies in that box of stuff he doesn't like. He really liked Mali.

I love it when these poets get fired up and in the moment with their work. They're brilliant. Even the hard-to-get poems come to life in a good slam poet. There is just a vibrance of emotion that comes across, and a meaning communicated that otherwise escapes. 

I am just here to share a little bit of what I love. Enjoy. :)

(Slight language warning)

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Book Review: The Lathe of Heaven

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I met a deaf boy at school

He saw me signing and thought I was deaf. When I was about to leave, he came up and asked me if I was deaf. I told him no. Tosha was with me, and he turned and asked her the same. Of course she said no also.

We tried to talk to him. But after saying hi, he just turned around and walked away. I felt kind of sad, actually. I think he was just looking for people like himself. I sort of wished I was. He looked nice. Continue reading →