National Poetry Month Celebration 2015 Bio: Lawrence Nicol is also known as Tuesday, a poet who writes mostly about love or life experiences. He has been writing since he was a sophomore in high school. Lawrence is currently preparing a collection of poetry for publication in the winter of 2015. The Interview1.Where do you draw your inspiration from to write poetry? My inspiration to write poetry comes from love and life experiences. Whenever I find something I love (mostly music) I try my best to let it inspire me through words. 2. What advice do you have for someone that is threatened by poetry? If someone is threatened by poetry, they shouldn't be. My biggest advice to anyone is if you're scared the best thing you can do is at least try. Writing is therapeutic so even if you don't get the outcome you want at least you can relieve some stress in the process. 3. What is an interesting fact about you? I got my poetry name from my nephew. My middle name is Babatunde and he could never say that so he would always say Babatuesday so I shortened it and got Tuesday. Another fun fact? I was also born on a Tuesday!!! 4. Where are you from/Where do you live? Born from parents of West African decent (Sierra Leone and Guinea) I was raised in Prince Georges County and lived in Lanham for the past 22 years. 5. Who is your favorite poet? My favorite poet is Jasmine Mans, her ability to make me feel her words in the pit of my stomach move me tremendously. My favorite poet from her is "Dear Ex Lover." She also has a mixtape "Black Boy Gold." A Poem"Don't Shoot" (Stand for Something) I see you're willing to stand for something But will you still raise your hands in protest When the news loses interest in the slaying of young black boys Will you march in solidarity if there is no one to document your movements See what are you really fighting for But the opportunity to say you were there When will enough be enough How much more blood will be shed in the name of the law The very same law that swore to serve and protect you What stories must you tell your child when you send him off into this world A world that wants nothing more Than to see him as a man who fits the description A description he often knows nothing about but somehow was born with See this is my reality Somehow our melanin became a target For those who harbor hatred for a race of men who want nothing more than to be equals Equal enough to walk the streets and make it home without making a national headline black man slain before his time See this is now becoming the norm And we can no longer choose to ignore They are picking us off one by one Till we are no more I see you're willing to stand for something But please do more than raise your hands in protest. They say the revolution will not be televised Nor will it wait for those who stand on the sidelines It is time to make a change Lift up your voices and be heard Let them know we are worth more than make shift memorials and teddy bears on corners Liquor poured over concrete We have seen to many mothers mourning And we tired I am tired Tired that our lives mean little next to nothing In a world where our legacies are forced to scream martyrs for causes we choose not to die for And to the next brother who won't make it home due to the unjust balance of power I pray to the almighty God your death will not be in vain And for those us who are left to remain to endure this pain I pray you do SOMETHING. A Poet in ActionPlease share your reaction below.
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A Poem | |
Lines
i want to be lines
In palm
Nucleus of touch
Creases with
Full consciousness
Un-forgeable
Curves
Undulating
To know congas
Smooth skin
And hips
The smack of
Blown kiss
To be lit
And feel heat
To be pressed
And press back
While catching
The shortness
Of breaths
Whispered
In prayer
i want to be lines
In palm
Nucleus of touch
Creases with
Full consciousness
Un-forgeable
Curves
Undulating
To know congas
Smooth skin
And hips
The smack of
Blown kiss
To be lit
And feel heat
To be pressed
And press back
While catching
The shortness
Of breaths
Whispered
In prayer
Please share your reaction below.
The energy you contribute transcends your imagination.
National Poetry Month Celebration
Bio: Emmanuel "Cholo" Smith is from Cheverly Maryland. The arts have been a part of him since he was singing in the church choir at 3 and developed into what he does now. He likes to think of his work as the theory of simplexity which identifies the working relationship between simple and complex. Meaning he writes with simple and deep structures simultaneously.
The bulk of his current work is concentrated on love and Gogo; two things the DMV (D.C, Maryland, and Virginia tri-state) is all about. To learn more about “Cholo,” please visit www.CholoWrites.com.
The bulk of his current work is concentrated on love and Gogo; two things the DMV (D.C, Maryland, and Virginia tri-state) is all about. To learn more about “Cholo,” please visit www.CholoWrites.com.
The Interview
1. Where do you draw your inspiration from to write poetry?
Poetry is all around us, like now, as I answer this question a window is right in front of me. The image of the window and the connotation of possibility is poetry. Poetry is paying attention, so I draw on my awareness as inspiration.
2. What advice do you have for someone that is threatened by poetry?
Threatened is an interesting word. That person should wield poetry as a sword to fight against or with whatever is at stake. There is power in poetry that performs as muscles do: use it more and more for more strength.
3. What is an interesting fact about you?
I am a wavering pescetarian. Meaning, I try hard to eat right but I am only human and chicken & mumbo sauce has always been good to me.
4. Where are you from/Where do you live?
Good ol' P.G County in Maryland is where I'm from and reside.
5. Who is your favorite poet?
I love poems and don't really have a favorite poet. I guess my favorite poet is my sister who unknowingly helped me discover the power of poetry with her poem "Add'em up" if it weren't for her I wouldn't be a writer. However, some poets I find highly creative are Dwayne Betts, Thomas Sayers Ellis, Bro. Yao, Langston Hughes, and the late Gil Scott-Heron.
A Poet in Action
A Poem by Cholo
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