Poetry

“Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou

by patricia on April 23, 2012

In honor of National Poetry Month, we decided to put on one of our favorite poems. Written by Dr. Maya Angelou, readers are reminded that the human spirit can transcend any oppression and by doing so we become stronger and stronger. All we have to do is RISE above it.

Still I Rise
By Maya Angelou

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I’ll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops,
Weakened by my soulful cries?

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don’t you take it awful hard
‘Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines
Diggin’ in my own backyard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I’ve got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history’s shame
I rise
Up from a past that’s rooted in pain
I rise
I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

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“Louder Than a Bomb” Shows Up at OWN Louder Than Life (Video Clips)

by patricia on January 14, 2012

The Oprah Winfrey Network recently aired the documentary, “Louder Than a Bomb”. I was so excited about this film and feared that I was working it up to be so much more than it was. However, it was far more than I could have even imagined. In this documentary “Louder Than A Bomb”, viewers explored the story of four Chicago high school poetry teams as they prepared to compete in the world’s largest youth slam. The film itself captured the “turbulent lives of these unforgettable kids, exploring the ways writing shapes their world, and vice versa”.

I am FULLY aware that I am no poet. Yet I felt writing a poem was the best way to pay homage to the film and its impact on me. So please accept my apologizies in advance for the substandard prose and I only hope you give me a few kudos for the gesture.

So Much Louder Than a Bomb

Sitting back in life,
Just another day of observation.
Smiling unfamiliar faces with rhytmic tones.

As the players cross the screen,
My body begins to lean forward.
The sirens calling me to wake me and be present.

Awed by the piercing depth of their words.
The pain, the want, the hope are delicately woven with each syllable.
Completely captivated by the words which have been weighed down by the truth.

Their truth.

THIS is our history.
Amongst the words of those who are not afraid to speak.
THIS is our history.

And I fear not enough of it is being captured.

As the film closed and the bombs quieted

I sank back into my sofa. Into my world.
Releasing the energy within the moment.
But something held me and tugged.

I had been changed.
What I had seen was so much louder than a bomb.

What I had seen was LOUDER than life.

Yeah, I told you I wasn’t a poet. However, the poets you are about to hear will astonish you and leave you speechless. The clips below are poems from the film…from the poets featured in the film. These poems were all part of the documentary. So…find a quiet place, sit back and get ready to be both inspired and totally WOW’d.

“Poet Breathe Now” by Adam Gottlieb

[read more…]

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OWN Documentary “Louder Than A Bomb” Premieres Jan 5th – Sneak Peek

by patricia on January 2, 2012

Finally “Louder Than A Bomb” is here! If you recall, in June I mentioned this incredible documentary was coming to OWN and the day is finally etched in stone – January 5th at 9/8c on OWN. I have been so excited about this film! True, I’m a sucker for poetry throw-downs but this film looks great.

In this documentary, we embark on a journey with 4 Chicago high school poetry teams as they get ready to compete in the world’s largest youth slam. The film itself captures the “turbulent lives of these unforgettable kids, exploring the ways writing shapes their world, and vice versa”.

Set your TiVos to be sure you don’t miss this one – January 5th at 9/8C on OWN!

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On the Gayle King Show – Get Inspired with Oprah today & pick up the latest O Magazine!

by paula on March 22, 2011

Good news!  Oprah is on the Gayle King Show today!  Can’t wait!  Gayle is up and leaves her house by 6:15am.  So earrrrrrrrrrrly…Gayle, you must drink lots of coffee.  But you look so pretty in your grey dress…Anyway….onto the topics of the day!  And OPRAH is on!!!!

About Libya – Airplane down. Pilots ejected. Pilot found. Pilot found. It all happened so quick this morning…It’s all good.  But now the President and the Congress are a little out of sync.  “Who are the opposition forces that we are supporting?”  Gayle asks.  “What are we getting into?” everyone else is asking.  The President tells us this “specifically focuses on the humanitarian threat from Gadhafi”…and what he is doing to his own people.  The cost of the first day – $100 million dollars….YOW!  But we are told that before the week is up….there will be an extended conversation on what we are doing… For this ‘engagement’ we are told it will be days, not weeks…we will see.  I sure hope so.

About Twitter – Twitter turned 5 and over 200,000 people are using it.  That’s it? I ask….what?  C’mon people…really.  So, Jasmine Ortiz tweeted Gayle about a purple dress that was left in her dad’s cab.  Gayle checked it out and YES, her stylist DID leave a purple dress in the cab.  WOW.  See, Twitter….connecting people with people and people with stuff.  Gayle, I am reaching out to you too!  Say hi sometime…. [read more…]

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