Queens Speech [video]

It's Media Wednesday and today I'm posting a video from one of the Expressions: Poetry At The Pub open mics. This video is from last year and I'm still getting used to seeing myself in video. More reason to get better when it comes to performing. Enjoy.

Sojourner Truth's Ain't I A Woman

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Sojourner Truth (1797-1883): Ain't I A Woman?
Delivered 1851
Women's Convention, Akron, Ohio 

Well, children, where there is so much racket there must be something out of kilter. I think that 'twixt the negroes of the South and the women at the North, all talking about rights, the white men will be in a fix pretty soon. But what's all this here talking about? 

That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain't I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain't I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man - when I could get it - and bear the lash as well! And ain't I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain't I a woman? 

Then they talk about this thing in the head; what's this they call it? [member of audience whispers, "intellect"] That's it, honey. What's that got to do with women's rights or negroes' rights? If my cup won't hold but a pint, and yours holds a quart, wouldn't you be mean not to let me have my little half measure full? 

Then that little man in black there, he says women can't have as much rights as men, 'cause Christ wasn't a woman! Where did your Christ come from? Where did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with Him. 

If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back , and get it right side up again! And now they is asking to do it, the men better let them. 

Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner ain't got nothing more to say. 

 Text found on the Internet Modern History Sourcebook.

The Devil & My Sole

In the last quarter of 2012, Antigua Toastmasters was formed, and even though I had attended every meeting since the very first meeting, I joined in January 2013. I wouldn't say I was ecstatic about the Tall Tale Competition when it was first announced, I would say it was expected of me as I was a poet with a leaning towards story telling. But as the date came closer, I became excited.

The competition started out with eight participants that had wheedled down to five because three dropped out. And although I knew about it months in advance, it was only within the last month that this tale came into being. It started with just a little idea that grew and grew, but I never wrote it out. I repeated it in my mind over and over. When I noticed I forgot a sentence, I would work hard to remember it, the next time I recited it.

As for the southern accent and references to Louisiana, well, I have a strange connection to that part of the world. Maybe because I watched so much episodes of Designing Women, maybe I've read so much about that part of the world. The truth is I have never stepped foot in Louisiana, which adds to this tale being a tall tale.

The performance was a result of many practice sessions, some of which were when I was making my bed. I'm not angry about it, could I improve on it, yes, but I'm not mad at it. As a result of it, I won the Tall Tale Competition. The funny thing is a few of the audience thought I would fall out of character, but the truth is I've always been good with accents. Sometimes my everyday speech would be peppered with accents.

Special Thanks goes out to my sister for taping and uploading this YouTube clip.

OXOX
Kimolisa

Humble The Poet

I came across this and seeing I didn't have a poem today, I figured I would share it. Enjoy!!

Spoken Word

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My last poem was a piece I had created for the launch of a Carnival troupe and it was created and performed before it was even typed. I say typed because I didn't even write it and then post it on the blog. It was tattooed into my brain so I can speak it and then transcribed straight to this blog.

Now before I did the piece at the launch itself, I had given a few people the rough spoken word performance and it was well received. It was even enhanced by the suggestions from people (I now understand how to collaborate and make it work). So when it was time to lay it down I was real tight with it. Of course I could do better, but I could have done a whole lot worse.

The reception was not bad, but when I saw the comment left on my pic on FaceBook, a phrase came to mind. I looked up where it came from and it turns out it came from Matthew 7:6 and it goes

'Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.'

 I'm not saying the people at the launch are dogs or swine, I'm just saying that one should not waste your talent on people who would not appreciate it, who would not nurture it, support it and be inspired by it. They are not the type of people who would stay up late on a Saturday night to catch an episode of Def Poetry Jam or watch countless spoken word videos on YouTube. Most of these people don't know about the different open mics that are here on island and understand the lyrical skill that exists among them on this small island.

Our talents are holy, they are our gifts and should be used fully until they are spent, but we should never give what is holy, even if it is holy to ourselves only, to those who will never appreciate them. That's all I have to say on the matter. Below are some clips I found on YouTube, enjoy.

Spoken Word Friday

Spoken Words

More from Def Poetry Jam

Gemineye

This is such a beautiful piece. Hope you like.

Rudy Francisco

My sis shared this and I just had to, it was so good.

Spoken Word - PorKae

This Poem - MutaBaruka

This poem I heard at the last open mic for Expressions: Poetry In The Pub and it was definitely worth posting.

Sinnerman - Nina Simone

Other People's Words

Unfortunately, the last couple I've written, I can't post as yet as on I wrote for an open mike Saturday after next, another is for a funeral and I have to wait till I read it at the funeral, and the last is one I want to put in a book. So instead of my work I'm posting some clips from Def Poetry Jam.

Enjoy!!