P.O.E.T.R.Y(D.I.C.H.T.U.N.G)

By: John SerpasDadurch: WolfGang

UntitledShe put her faith in him , She didn’t care if it was a sin. She believed she was finally at piece, An aspect of lyfe she didn’t always get to see.She gave him her virginity and her unending love.Gave him comfort when he didn’t know where he was coming from.Gave him direction and gave him support.Gave him everything he could have ever asked for. “The one and only”, she would repeat to herself. “I wouldn’t want nor do I need anyone else”, is how she felt. Eventually found it within herself to bare his child.It took a while. Five years to be exact.A five year relationship she felt remained in tack.The original foundation had yet to crack.CRACK! Is the sound you heard when the belt lashed across her back.CRACK! Is the sound you heard when the picture frame landed on the floor. She picked it up and what for? Just to see a split in the frame. The frame held a picture of the day she decided to share his last name.And their daughter simply cried from within the womb. “Mommy’s fine baby”, she repeated to her. Afraid she would come soon. The beating would continue. “Mommy’s fine baby”, she repeated to her. She knew she would come soon.She was exposed to wound, after wound, after wound, after wound. “Mommy’s fine baby”, she repeated to her. Even when she was outside the womb. And she would repeat to her even if for eternity. Premature birth was the cause of death you see. But she continued to put her faith in him, She didn’t care if it was a sin.She believed she was finally at piece, An aspect of lyfe she didn’t always get to see.

By: Guardian (John Serpas)

51 Types Of Poetry

Poetry 101Free VerseFree Verse is an irregular form of poetry in which the content free of traditional rules of versification, (freedom from fixed meter or rhyme). In moving from line to line, the poet's main consideration is where to insert line breaks. Some ways of doing this include breaking the line where there is a natural pause or at a point of suspense for the reader. Following the direction of Walt Whitman, Ezra Pound and T.S. Eliot, many modern day poets use this particular form of expression. Example:Ode to Job (Copyright © 2001 Lachlan Ivy) Job came down in a woosh, outstretched and gliding into the horizon. Blue shadowed flight arrested by the beckoning marsh. His greatness bears much yet not the anguish of ancient prophecy. Situated grievances weigh feathery on this long, strong back. Unconscious emotion numbs while time drifts out another sun salted day.

Poetry 101 (cont.)

Epigram:short satirical poems ending with either a humorous retort or a stinging punchline.

Example:Sit and Stare By: Guardian (John Serpas)I sit and stare. Sit and stare without a care. I sit and stare with children everywhere. Sit and stare while this stranger teaches us the who’s, what’s and where’s .Sit as I stare, stare as I sit.To me all this seems irrelevant. But needed in order to be credited.With the title of being called, “intelligent”.It may seem unfair.But I’ll do nothing of it and just sit and stare.But luckily I only do this 30 weeks out of the 56 weeks in the Year.

Minute Poetryis rhyming verse form consisting of 12 lines of 60 syllables written in strict iambic meter. The poem is formatted into 3 stanzas of 8,4,4,4; 8,4,4,4; 8,4,4,4 syllables. The rhyme scheme is as follows: aabb, ccdd, eeff

Example: I Need Someone Copyright © 2003 Linda NewmanI need someone to hold me tight Through dark of night, Who won’t go ’way At break of day.

Someone whose love will mend the seams Of broken dreams, And give me back The trust I lack.

For love, it holds the magic key To set me free, To heal my soul And make me whole.

Def PoetryOn HBO Friday at Midnight. Typically during the Automn season.

Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry features a spectrum of voices, from struggling urban poets who've cut their teeth in speakeasies and small clubs across the country, to the icons of the form, to celebrated actors, singers, dancers, and comedians writing and sharing poems for the first time.

Each installment of Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry is hosted by the highly regarded hip-hop artist and actor Mos Def. The

series is directed by Stan Lathan, who, along with Simmons, executive produced the long-running hit series Russell Simmons' Def

Comedy Jam, which was also directed by Lathan.

Recognizing the power of urban poetry on modern culture, top rap music impresario Simmons, whose Def Jam Records launched

the careers of artists such as LL Cool J and Jay-Z, teamed up with HBO to create Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry in 2001,

turning the spotlight on the freshest and most fearless voices in America today. One of the most revered poetry organizations. An

honor to be considered and invited to perform. A Poets Dream as I would consider it to be.

Previous seasons have featured performances by special guests ranging from Dave Chappelle, Common, Savion Glover, Lauryn

Hill, Wyclef Jean, Alicia Keyes, Eve Ensler, John Legend, Phylicia Rashad, Smokey Robinson, Kanye West to many others.

AS220Providence Poetry Slam

AS220 is a non-profit community arts space in downtown Providence. Our mission is to provide an unjuried and uncensored forumfor the arts. Providence Slam is one of the oldest and most respected national Poetry Slam venues. Known for bringing quality, consistent work to regional/national poetry events and for a strong community built around it's home venue of AS220, The Providence Slam Team won the National Poetry Slam in 1996, hosted Nationals in 2000, and has advanced passed the qualifying round at The National Poetry Slam 8 times in the passed 11 years

Our reading is at AS220 EVERY THURSDAY!!115 Empire St.Providence, RI 02909

1ST THURSDAY: OPEN MIC, FEATURE, OPEN SLAM *OPEN MIC LIST GOES UP AT 7:30PM/DOORS OPEN AT 8PM (Open Mic Slot is 3 minutes)

2ND THURSDAY: POETRY TAG/WRITER'S CIRCLE *Laid back, low pressure writer's group. A chance to share and talk about poems away from the stage. 6:30PM/UPSTAIRS, 2ND FLOOR AS220 CLASSROOM SPACE

3RD THURSDAY: MUSICIANS OPEN MIC *Open Mic and Feature: Open to Musicians, Singers, and Writers. Singers and Musicians get 8 minutes (THIS INCLUDES TALKING/INTRO RAMBLING) and Poem presenters get 3 minutes (3 MINUTES SHARP.) Open Mic list goes up at 7:30/Doors at 8pm. EXCEPT ON QUARTERLY B.S.S. RHODE SHOW EVENTS!!

4TH THURSDAY: YOUTH SLAM *Open Mic, Feature, Youth Slam. Youth Slam is for performers age 13-19 years of age. Open Mic list goes up at 7:30/Doors Open at 8pm.

Poetry Origins• Classical Poets

- Homer (composed Iliad, Odyssey)

- Li Po, revered as one of Chinas best poets (701-762) Drinking Alone with the Moon

From a pot of wine among the flowersI drank alone. There was no one with me --Till raising my cup, I ask the bright moonTo bring me my shadow and make us three.Alas, the moon was unable to drinkAnd my shadow tagged me vacantly;But still for a while I had these friendsTo cheer me through the end of spring....I sang. The moon encouraged meI danced. My shadow tumbled after.As long as I knew, we were born companions.And then I was drunk, and we lost one another.....Shall goodwill ever be secure?I watch the long road of the River of Stars.

Poetry Origins cont.• Renaissance Poets- William Shakespeare (1564-1616) wrote 37 plays and 154 sonnets, all of which is still

referenced today and considered the most important pieces of scripture ever written.

• Romeo and Juliet (1594-1595)

• A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1595-1596)

• Much Ado About Nothing (1598-1599)

• Henry V (1598-1599)

• Twelfth Night (1599-1600)

• Hamlet (1600-1601)

• Measure for Measure (1604-1605)

• King Lear (1605-1606)

• Macbeth ( 1605-1606)

• The Tempest (1611-1612)

Poetry Origins cont.

Poetry origins (fin.)

• Nelly Sachs

• Born December 1891 in Schoneberg, Berlin.

• A noble prize recipient in 1966

• She was a German poet and dramatist who used her life experience as her writing format. i.e. living during the Nazi experience allowed her to become a spokesperson for her fellow Jews and she was determined to let their pain be known.

• She specialized in Romanticism

Therapy SessionWith Mr. Wolfgang

Advice to aspiring poets, poets who feel they aren’t good enough, or a regular joe-shmo.

• Even if it’s your first time, as long as you put emotion into your poem and your poems topic of choice, it will come out great. It’s a matter of finding your style and feeling proud of what you are presenting to world to see

• Be CREATIVE Don’t limit yourself or your imagination. One of the greatest poems I’ve heard performed was about a 16 year olds passion for Beef Jerky. You can write whatever size your heart desires.

• Shy?!?!?!?! Nonsense! Whether you’re performing or presenting your poetry, keep this in mind. Majority of your audience won’t even have the nerve to even imagine performing in front of a crowd of strangers. They are fans of poetry and respect your writing piece. They are there to observe, gain knowledge, and appreciate the creativity you have to offer.

• How to practice? Trial and error, in front of a mirror, in an elevator, perform for friends of family, any possible way that comes to that creative poet mind of yours.

• Your limit is what you make of it, because even having the sky as the limit isn’t enough room for me.

“Writer’s Block”A writer’s worst enemy. Why this phrase was created to begin with I don’t know, but it is almost a taboo to mention it aroundCreative minds. A proper description of it would be a as it hints, it is a slump or rut that clog the tunnels that the creative juices flow. Not allowing any ideas to flow properly and the beginning of abuse to a established ego. So to this concept of “writer’s block” I decided to respond with this:

Title: Writer’s BlockI can’t get a word out with having you YOU! Cut me off. Yes, you always cut me off.And to be quite frank, it’s starting to piss me the fuck off.Cause I’m trying to do nothing, but release mere frustration. And like a mirror, you mirror me perfectly in a taunting imitation. You know I hate to look at myself directly in the face.I get a sense of disappointment, a sense of disgrace.It’s a feeling of not belonging. Even tho’ it’s something I’ve been longing, for. But with you always around I no longer know what my attempts are for.I’m just a business career bound, muscle profound, arrogant son of a bitch.So me attempting this makes no sense. I should have my nose in books and records.Attending lectures, not at an open mic were poets gather together. I hear ‘em perform and hear how they’re so much better than me. I’m just a virgin poet with an unpierced cherry.

Guardian (John Serpas)

Work cited• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzyrHsYTveE• http://www.shadowpoetry.com/resources/wip/types.html (51 types of poetry information)• HBO: Russell Simmons presents Def Poetry © 2009 Home Box Office, Inc. All Rights Reserved.• http://www.online-literature.com/goethe/ (Site Copyright © Jalic Inc. 2000 - 2009.)• www.nobel-winners.com — Nelly Sachs