Poetry Saves Lives???
“quiet your voices sometimes
so you can better hear theirs
do this
and I guarantee
our young people
they will
ROCK YOU!!” Excerpt from “Simon Says” by Poet Theresa Davis
One by one, the youth, ages 14 – 18, took the mic and ROCKED IT at the 2013 Teen Slam Competition in Atlanta!
Poet Corey Maddox shared a poem about a young boy being molested and having the courage to tell. Poet Nubia Livermore vulnerably mourned the loss of a first love who died suddenly, and Poet Kaelin Matthews, winner of the 2012 Teen Slam Competition, delivered a heart crushing love poem that included the consequence of abortion and “no choice” for dads.
The content of the program was reflective of headlines in our daily news: a son kills a father, a minister preys upon the innocent youth of his congregation, a child is mercilessly bullied to the point of considering suicide. And yes, the list continued…
What was most striking to me was the courage of these young people. Their words were not just enraged and indignant, but compassion poured through them. This was most obvious in their consistent camaraderie and support of one another.
Poetry brought them together as a powerful tribe. Poetry was the catalyst for their healing and growth. Poetry was the safe place for them to process and share their fears, their rage, their loss and loves. Poetry is their hope amidst the mayhem all around them.
I am reminded of that disco song with the chorus, “Last night a DJ saved my life!” (Was that the disco era?) Perhaps it is poetry saving their lives.
While we are marching, demonstrating, petitioning, legislating, debating and mourning over the lives of our young people, we must also make sure that we are LISTENING TO AND HEARING them. Perhaps the teen next door, the shy youth at church, the rough neck on the corner has no mic, no poem, no slam, no positive direction or connection.
Remember as a teen when the last person you wanted to talk to was your own parents?
I do. I also remember a “cooler,” younger, or outside person saying the same thing to me that Mom and Dad had said, and I drank every word. It made me understand my parents a bit better too. It kept me out of trouble and maybe saved my life.
The youth are speaking, screaming, singing? Are we listening? Are we saving their lives?
As always,
Be joyful,
Be creative,
Be inspired,
Tamara
P.S. Curious about the excerpt at the beginning of this entry? Check the full poem below by Author/Poet/Educator, Theresa Davis as the creative feature in this newsletter. Theresa delivered this poem at the slam mentioned above. Thanks for this, Theresa!
I have also attached a YouTube link to young poet, Jared Green at the 2013 Urban Word Teen Slam Competition. You gotta’ see this!!!
Simon Says
don't you remember that time in your life
when you were all arms and awkward intentions
aggression wrapped in a barbed-wire heart
when the closest you wanted to be to other people
was way the hell over there
when you were minx and sass
teenybopper
borderline juvenile delinquent
when the closest you wanted to be to other people
was way the heck over there
your body turned battlefield
bones aching tonal war of vocal cords
when you didn't know where you fit
but you want to so badly
you buried whatever you thought
could be held against you
in the backyard next to GI Joe and Barbie
it is here
that I need you remember who you used to be
so you can fully appreciate what happens next
for the sixth grade science teacher
who after a female in his class asked to be excused twice
during his lesson
felt it was appropriate to announce to her classmates
that it must be her time of the month
did you know
before that moment
science was her favorite subject
she was going to cure cancer
return renegade memories to Alzheimer patients
she can't stand science now
and what I think she means
is that she can't stand you
but the cause and effect of your forked tongue
has left her casualty
period
for the seventh grade English teacher
who in her infinite wisdom
saw fit to suspend a thirteen year old boy
for three days
because the wind blew at the wrong time
and things became erect
now she doesn’t understand why he won’t talk to her
why he is so cautious a in her classroom turned minefield
he is silent
because that is the one thing he can control
and since you seemed determined to punishing him
for the things he can't
why would he give you more ammunition
he cautious because you have turned enemy camp
and now you wants to scream zero tolerance
like that’s
synonymous to hijack your own common sense
I have zero tolerance policy in my classroom
talk during one of my tests
and watch me hand grenade launch your efforts
into the nears spherical filing receptacle
but in 2009, when Simon stood erect
slams a pencil on his desk
in the middle of my math test and says
Ms. Theresa, I’m just saying,
if Freddie Mercury were alive today
we would not be at war with Iraq!
I think three things simultaneously
first I think he knows who Freddie Mercury is
second I think his parents are awesome
because he know who Freddie Mercury is
third I think he could be right
who am I to punish him for his insight
when teaching children
we have to remember
that we were once one of them
and shaming them about
the bodies they are trying to invade
the voices they are struggling to own
will not win us their trust
it will only render us untrustworthy
so, educators
choose your battles
quiet your voices sometimes
so you can better hear theirs
do this
and I guarantee
our young people
they will
ROCK YOU!!
@ 2013, Theresa Davis
Author/Poet/ Educator
http://piratepoetshows.wix.com/simonsays.
Jared Green at the 2013 Urban Word Teen Slam Competition!!!