#commonwealth slam

[commonwealthslam]

I.  My topknot tongue wants To be untangled, to let loose Coil and wind wind around hearts. My words are tomes to the distressed – My desire, to learn the word “save,” With haste, in every dialect, so I must study Effectiveness and choose The shortest linguistic path From mouth to masses. Every exhale I let loose Is a missed opportunity To form my lips Into something more necessary. The only need more immediate Than taking a breath Is not wasting one. II. This language I learn is for every canal, Windswept or waterborne. My truth is a gondola With free fare and access to every corner Of cityscape.  I want to give glide To everyone who feels they are drowning, To lift from treading and gift a forgotten language: Ease of survival.  Mother tongue is birthed But I want the tongue that formed mothers, I want the caring that lifts each child as favorite Because to be created is to be precious And to be precious is to be equal.

Speak

My workshop poem from 8/6 in #fxbg, VA.  Join us physically or virtually.  =)

[commonwealthslam]

Workshop from 8/5

Every first Wednesday we have a poetry workshop followed by an open mic.  This week we played off of last month’s prompt where we’re aiming to share the feeling of an event over the event itself so people can relate to the poem without having experienced the exact topic.  That being said today’s prompt was:

Choose a language you want to speak/wish you could speak.  Be rather literal (Spanish, Pashto, English) or less so (love, death) or be Dr. Doolittle. 

Brainstorm ideas about the language to create this poem.  What intrigues you about the language?  What is your goal of knowing this language?  Who you would like to talk to or to whom you’d like to speak so you could tell them off in their native tongue.  Tell us whatever the hell you’d like... except for the language you chose.  Do not mention what language you wish to speak in the poem. tl;dr:  What language do you want to speak?  Why?  Don’t tell the reader which language you chose.

[commonwealthslam]

Upcoming poetry readings in Fredericksburg, VA.

Check out our schedule for August! 

On 8/5 we have our monthly workshop and open mic

On 8/12 we will be having a poetry slam after our workshop!  This show will make use of the main stage at Headquarters Library!

[commonwealthslam]

Come out to Headquarters Library’s auditorium for our quarterly show featuring touring poets.  For our second feature of the year we will be hosting poet Breeze.  Here’s a little info about our feature:

Breeze "ILIFETHIS" The Poet is a native of Richmond Virginia, and has been performing  professionally for 5 years. He is known for his powerful, almost preacher like performance and his ability to be completely transparent. His accolades include: > -Lexus Verses and Flow season 4 featured poet > -3x King of the South Slam Champion > -Auditioned, accepted, and competed at the historic Showtime at the Apollo Theatre   > -Skinny Bully Grand Slam Champion (Charlotte) > -Writers Den Grand Slam Champion (Richmond) > As well as many other slam wins and performances at notable venues across the country

[commonwealthslam]

Workshop Poem from 6/3/15

Repetition is a chisel that defiles Even the most beautiful.   Abrasion rubs raw skin And style alike.

I am wicked scalpel, wasted surgeon. I disregard details with derailment of patience, Take glances at waistline when cutting funny bones – Everything can be made a joke If you don’t care who you hurt.

I am double sided sword in blunt scabbard. I never draw - I wait, I silence. I turn and let others rub until sheath fades. Then I revel in the carelessness of others, How they made their own path. Self-care is letting self-destruction lurk Until it is ready to speak blade. Self-desecration is letting everyone around you fall Because you’re too timid to diagnose problems As they occur.  It is biting Because you hate your own clenched teeth. I am agape when I have nothing to say And latched gate when it’s time to let someone in.

Somehow I am still worn tongue When I should be scabbing knees I am loop of malpractice When I should be emergency room operating table.

[poetryismyweapon]

Running a workshop in Fredericksburg, Va.

A poem is The way a heart breathes. To love Is to know a person By their inhales and exhales.

[commonwealthslam]

Thank you so much to all these artists who told their story.  It's always an honor to have people involved in this project and community.   A special thanks to Alex Dang and and Clementine von Radics for taking the time to bring their tour to Fredericksburg and for coming to hang out at poetry and pancakes afterwards. 

[commonwealthslam]

Alex Dang and Clementine von Radics at CommonWealth Slam.

clementinevonradics

wordsoftakumi