Poet, Breathe Now

Hey all you cool writers and poets.Today, we analyzed Nikki Giovanni's poem, ‘Mothers'.If you're interested in reading her convocation speech for the Virginia Tech shooting memorial, you can find it here.POETIC PROSE: Explore motherhood – yours or your mother figure's – to find out what was left behind and what was kept. Dive into intangible family heirlooms – what have you inherited that you plan to pass down or have passed down? What will you or have you kept away from the next generation?Intro Song: "Garden Walk" by D. RayOutro Song: Mi-Lo by Smith The Mister https://smiththemister.bandcamp.comSmith The Mister https://bit.ly/Smith-The-Mister-YTFree Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/mi-loMusic promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/--4tHbTT97g

Hey all you cool writers and poets. Today, we read the ethereal Sonia Sanchez’s 1987 poem ‘Under a Soprano Sky.’I quoted Ta-Nehisi Coates’ 2015 nonfiction Between the World and Me.I also discussed my lovely alma-mater Howard University, which you should consider making a donation toward, if you have the funds. In these times of economic hardships, HBCUs can absolutely use the support to stay afloat for when students are finally able to return to campus, sprawl out on the yard, and listen to classmates read Sonia Sanchez again.For today’s Poetic Prose: Interpret the meaning behind Under a Soprano Sky. Who is the narrator? What are they experiencing? Who are they speaking to? What message are they trying to send? Send it to me at leanna.commins@gmail.com if you feel so inclined, but as always, keeping your art to yourself for yourself is and always will be good enough.Intro Song: "Garden Walk" by D. RayOutro Song: Mi-Lo by Smith The Mister https://smiththemister.bandcamp.comSmith The Mister https://bit.ly/Smith-The-Mister-YTFree Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/mi-loMusic promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/--4tHbTT97g

Hi all you cool writers and poets! Today, we read the revolutionary Assata Shakur’s “Affirmations” from her self-titled autobiography (which you should purchase from a Black-owned bookstore if you don’t have it already).Here is Annie Dillard’s 1973 essay that she wrote for The Atlantic, entitled “The Force That Drives Flowers.”Here is Toni Morrison’s 1976 lecture “Moral Inhabitants” (page 32) -- I highly recommend it, like I do all things Toni Morrision. Though this link sends you to the digital copy of Morrison’s essay, speech, and lecture collection book, The Source of Self-Regard, where the lecture is featured, I always believe in buying physical copies of the book if you can. Used or Black-owned bookstores are always my preference. Here’s where the reference to “things with feathers” comes from.And here’s Alexander Pope’s “An Essay on Man: Epistle 1” -- truly a breathtaking poem that’s worth a full read.I also mentioned Bell Hooks’ book All About Love, which is a profoundly beautiful book that I think should be required reading for all humans looking to create a more loving inner and outer world. For today’s Poetic Prose: Gather a list of all the things you believe in, whether it be in regard to yourself or to the outer world, write them down, and mold it into a poem. Send it to me at leanna.commins@gmail.com if you feel so inclined, but as always, keeping your art to yourself for yourself is and always will be good enough.Intro Song: "Garden Walk" by D. RayOutro Song: “We All Try” by Frank Ocean (Nostalgia, Ultra, 2011)

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Hey all you cool writers and poets :)Today, we discuss Danez Smith’s “alternate names for black boys" from his poetry collection “Don’t Call Us Dead.”I want to dedicate this episode’s show notes to a bunch of resources for defending Black lives.For those with money, here are some places to donate:I Run With MaudJustice for Breonna TaylorIn Memory of Tony McDadeOfficial George Floyd Memorial FundBlack Voters Matter FundCampaign ZeroDream DefendersNAACP Legal Defense FundBlack LGBTQIA+ Migrant ProjectThe Nina Pop Mental Health Recovery FundThe Bail ProjectSouthern Poverty Law CenterHere’s a more exhaustive list of places to donate: https://nymag.com/strategist/article/where-to-donate-for-black-lives-matter.html For those with time, here are some things you could be doing:Demand justice for Breonna Taylor by calling the following people:Governor Steve Beshear’s office (502) 564-2611District Attorney Tom Wine  (502) 595-2300Attorney General Daniel Cameron (502) 696-5300Senator Rand Paul (202) 224-4343Say the following: Hello, my name is [INSERT NAME], and I’m calling on behalf of Breonna Taylor. We demand that John Mattingly, Detective Brett Hankison, and Detective Myles Cosgrove be immediately charged with manslaughter and negligence. We also demand that you band “no-knock” warrants. Keep up with your local Black Lives Matter chapter and check in with them to find information about ongoing or upcoming protests.Sign these petitions:#DefundThePolice by Black Lives Matter#JusticeForFloyd by Color of ChangeJustice for Breonna by Loralei HoJay on Change.orgJustice For Big Floyd by Grassroots Law ProjectDemand Justice for George Floyd NAACP Legal Defense FundVolunteer with Rock the Vote to help get young people registered and out to vote.Help defund your local police department.  For those who want to learn, here are some great places to start:Online libraries:Anansi ArchivesGold Womyn Bilphena’s Online LibraryPodcasts:The 1619 ProjectNPR’s Code SwitchThe NodThe New York Times’ The Daily The New York Times’ Still ProcessingThe ReadFilm and TV:The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 (Documentary)13th (Documentary)I Am Not Your Negro (Documentary)The Pieces I Am (Documentary)When They See Us (Docuseries)Activists and Organizations:Bree NewsomeProf.ThomoBlack Women’s Studies AssociationRachel CargleZellieSo You Want to Talk About…Rewire.NewsClint SmithNikole Hanna JonesSoledad O’BrienBrittany Packnett CunninghamBlack Women RadicalsIn Our Own VoiceThis is by no means an exhaustive list -- hopefully, you’ve been collecting your own set of resources with the help of friends on social media. Spread the wealth, the time, and the knowledge to one another. For your spoken-word poem for this week, take a look at Danez Smith's beautiful "Alternate Heaven for Black Boys"Intro Song: "Garden Walk" by D. RayOutro Song: Mi-Lo by Smith The Mister https://smiththemister.bandcamp.comSmith The Mister https://bit.ly/Smith-The-Mister-YTFree Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/mi-loMusic promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/--4tHbTT97g

Hey all you cool writers and poets :)Today, we discuss the amazing Rita Dove and her poem "Describe Yourself In Three Words or Less" from her poetry collection "American Smooth."Here's the Nikki Giovanni quote I cite -- another amazing poet we would be remiss not to cover at some point.For your Poetic Prose this week, consider a time where you had to break your bones (metaphorically speaking) to fit into a box someone else built for you -- be it a job, a romantic relationship, a friendship, familial expectations, awards handed down by racists, whatever -- and write a poem about that experience. Write about how you pulled yourself out, how you broke free, what the process of smoothing out your bones and existing as yourself again (or maybe for the first time?) was like. Send it my way if you're interested in having it read out loud on the show at Leanna.commins@gmail.com :) For your spoken-word poem for this week, take a look at the amazing Crystal Valentine and Aaliyah Jihad reciting "To Be Black and Woman and Alive."Intro Song: "Garden Walk" by D. RayOutro Song: Mi-Lo by Smith The Mister https://smiththemister.bandcamp.comSmith The Mister https://bit.ly/Smith-The-Mister-YTFree Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/mi-loMusic promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/--4tHbTT97g

Hey all you cool writers and poets :)In this episode of Poet, Breathe Now, I discuss one of my favorite poems by Langston Hughes: "In Time of Silver Rain."If you want to hear me ramble on about transitions and cycles and spring, blast this shit.Here's Hilton Als' New Yorker profile of Langston Hughes -- it's poignant and fascinating.For your Prose Work this week: Think about a period of transition for you -- maybe a job change, a loss of a relationship, a new relationship, a new city -- and meditate on the beautiful and magical parts of that transition. Did you make more friends? Did you get closer to the people you have in your life? Did you get a desk with a better view? Whatever comes to mind, write it down and make it into 8poetry.If you want to share, email it my way at Leanna.commins@gmail.com, either as a written poem I can read out loud or as a voice memo I can play, and you might be featured on the show next week. For your spoken-word this week: Watch "The Period Poem" by Dominique Christina -- a poem that honors one of the most significant cycles in a human body.Intro Song: "Garden Walk" by D. RayOutro Song: Mi-Lo by Smith The Mister https://smiththemister.bandcamp.comSmith The Mister https://bit.ly/Smith-The-Mister-YTFree Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/mi-loMusic promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/--4tHbTT97g

You're reading the show notes, and that must mean you follow directions well (or you're a virgo and you're looking for typos). Either way, we love to see it.First up, here's the James Baldwin quote. It's not a quote you might be throwing around often in normal conversation. It's more like one that you allow to settle within you so you can carry it wherever you go -- especially when you're asking yourself whether you should buy another book before you got a chance to finish the last one (or two) you bought.Second, here's the definition of sonder (thank you, Jasmine!). You should 100% read all of Joe Koenig's words within his Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows. He was inspired to create it while attempting to write poetry. It was/is an effort to create words for feelings and emotions that our English dictionary lacks descriptors for -- an absolutely stunning and beautifully eery effort on his part.Lastly, please, please, if you do nothing else with whatever day you're listening to this podcast, watch "Poet, Breathe Now" by Adam Gottlieb. I promise you, it doesn't disappoint. And we gotta give credit where credit is due. Your non-mandatory poetry homework: Consider this amazing Stacey Abrams quote and the "homes" you're from. Tell the story of your foundation with a bit of poetic treatment --  no particular structure required. Whatever moves you. Share it with your loved ones or send it my way at Leanna.commins@gmail.com. I might read it out loud on the show -- or you can even send me a voice memo with you reading it yourself. Whatever makes you feel comfortable -- I always want to be mindful that you're an artist and you're sensitive about your shit. And of course, you can always keep it to yourself by yourself because that is and will always be good enough. Art is still art, whether it's shared or kept.Outro song: "Too Deep For the Intro" by J ColeNext episode dropping on Monday, April 13, 2020 at 8:00 AM.