Author Archives: Kiaramoore

My Thoughts on Spoken Word Poetry

When I think of Spoken Word poetry, I think of someone speaking from their head and their heart. At the same time trying to relate to the audience, while speaking about their own experiences. Spoken word could be an outlet from actually writing a certain type of poetry, spoken word is more creative writing during your free time, words that you don’t have to actually worry about if they are written in a certain way. When people have to perform their spoken word poems out loud its almost like a performance in the sense that its very theatrical and their voices make you feel their emotion at the time.

I don’t think I could perform a spoken word poem in front of a crowd right now, but with practice of the craft, I wouldn’t mind. In class we read the poem “Puerto Rican Obituary” by Pedro Pietri and his poem was not only longer than a lot of the other poems we read in class but the way the speaker was trying to connect with its audience was deep. Even the film we watched in class “Louder Than a Bomb” with all the spoken word artists, everyone had a different style and a different way of performing their poem which was good to see.

Echo

Echo

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: A sound or sounds caused by the reflection of sound waves from a surface back to the listener

Source: Oxford Dictionaries

Found in ” Hair” by Elizabeth Acevedo (line 22)

I looked up this word because the placement and context of the word are interesting. The speaker uses the word when speaking of how the bodies in the poem are basically becoming one with each other because of an echo.

Oppressed

Oppressed

Part of Speech: Adjective

Definition: Subject to harsh and authoritarian treatment.

Source: Oxford Dictionaries

Found in ” Hair” by Elizabeth Acevedo (line 17)

I looked up this word because the placement and context of the word are interesting. The speaker uses the word when speaking of “why would two oppressed people come together?” and probably because they want to treat that person they way they have been treated.

Amnesia

Amnesia

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: A partial or total loss of memory .

Source: Oxford Dictionaries

Found in ” Hair” by Elizabeth Acevedo (line 12)

I looked up this word because the placement and context of the word are interesting. The speaker uses the word when describing “drinking amnesia”, which could mean the speaker is trying to forget a certain event or period of time.

Ancestors

Ancestor(s)

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: A person, typically one more remote than a grandparent from who one is descended.

Source: Oxford Dictionaries

Found in ” Hair” by Elizabeth Acevedo (line 9)

I looked up this word because the placement and context of the word are interesting. The speaker uses the word when speaking of physical appearances.

Smoldering

Smoldering

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: Denoting or showing barely suppressed anger, desire, or another powerful emotion.

Source: Oxford Dictionaries

Found in ” Choi Jeong Min” Franny Choi (line 13)

I looked up this word because the placement and context of the word are interesting. The speaker uses the word like something is happening behind the curtain in the poem. Also this word could have another meaning but I think this definition fits in the poem.

Exhaustion

Exhaustion

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: A state of extreme  physical and mental tiredness

Source: Oxford Dictionaries

Found in ” Choi Jeong Min” By Franny Choi (line 3)

I looked up this word because it’s good to know in which context it was used in the poem and how the speaker used the word.  The author knew that the word placement would mean exactly what the definition was.

Langston Hughes Bio

Langston Hughes born “James Mercer Langston Hughes”  was born on February 1st, 1902 in Joplin, Missouri. During his early childhood he was raised by his grandmother until he was 13 then moved to Illinois  to live with his mother and her husband at the time. Even though he started writing poetry when he was in High School or a little bit before then, he moved around a lot from Mexico to New York City. Hughes held several jobs  during his such as cook, assistant, launderer and busboy. In 1926, Hughes first book of poetry was published titled, “The Weary Blues” and was published by Alfred A. Knopf. Also after he finished college at Lincoln University, in 1930 his first novel “Not Without Laughter” was published by Knopf, which ended up winning the Harmon gold medal for literature. Hughes was also known for his knowledge and views on black life in America. Hughes’ belief in humanity and belief that people of all walks of life could understand each other and get along ultimately led to his popularity downfall.  Hughes also wrote 11 plays and multiple prose poems, which included his well known series of books called “Simple’. Unfortunately, Hughes died of prostate cancer on May 22, 1967 in New York City.

 

 

 

https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poet/langston-hughes

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/langston-hughes

 

Melodious

Part of Speech: Adjective

Definition: Relating to of characterized by Melody; Plesant-sounding.

Source: Oxford Dictionary

Found in the Last line of ” I hear America Singing ” by Walt Whitman

This word was useful to look up because in the poem since there is a lot of singing, the word “melodious”  makes it sound like the singing sounds great. Especially putting this word at the end of the poem could also mean the singing throughout the poem was Melodious.

Robust

Part of Speech: Adjective

Definition: Strong and Healthy ; Vigorous

Source: Oxford Dictionary

Found in the 13th line of ” I Hear America Singing  ” by Walk Whitman

This word was useful to look up because the line in which “Robust”  was used makes the end of the poem seem like that their night ended strong and “friendly”.