eargasms

We’re Back!

eargasms — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 11:29:49 +0000

Eargasms is finally back!

In the past, we featured clips of spoken word poetry (mostly from HBO’s Def Poetry Jam pulled from YouTube). But this is a new academic year, and everything must change.

Now Eargasms will finally turn the camera around…this year, we will see more of our students as featured artists. We’ve been working tirelessly and diligently on our pieces – selecting our finest diction, polishing up our delivery – so that we can show you the best we have to offer.

The best way to stay updated on the Eargasms site is to click the subscription button on the lower right side. This way, you’ll receive an email everytime a new poem is posted.

Stay tuned…

“Father’s Day” by Shihan

eargasms — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 14:07:54 +0000

I got so caught up in my work during the months of April and May that I needed to take some time off from the eargasms site. But I thought it fitting to begin again today, Father’s Day, after thinking about Shihan’s poem.

I first heard this poem on HBO’s Def Poetry Jam a while ago, and it still rings in my ears today.

This one goes out to all the true fathers out there holding it down.

“I Was Born” by MC Lyte

eargasms — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 03:17:12 +0000

For this final full week of National Women’s Month, I decided to end the month of March with a poem from the wonderful MC Lyte.

Enjoy.

“Hot Shit” by Amanda Diva

eargasms — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:43:38 +0000

Sorry for the delay.

March is National Women’s History Month, and I will try to feature a new female artist each week in March. For this week of March 15, I want to introduce you all to Amanda Diva. This is my favorite Amanda Diva poem, and I used it last year to demonstrate a writing technique in the SLAM poetry club at CHC.

“Why I Love You” by Shanelle Gabriel

eargasms — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 21:34:06 +0000

To continue my celebration of women during National Women’s History Month, I shall anoint this second week of March with a great poem by Shanelle Gabriel.

“Some Days” by Amalia Ortiz

eargasms — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 19:32:45 +0000

March is National Women’s History Month, and I will feature a new female spoken word artist each week in March. For the week of March 1, I introduce you to a wonderful poem by the wonderful poet Amalia Ortiz.

“In Response” by Shihan

eargasms — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 14:31:28 +0000

Leading up to Valentine’s Day, one’s thoughts lilt toward love and I thought this poem by Shihan was a perfect addition to the site. Your day would be blessed if you ever get the chance to be in the same room with this brother. He is an amazingly creative artist, and a true poet in every sense of the word.

“Say Yes” by Andrea Gibson

eargasms — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 18:41:11 +0000

I chose this poem to kick off 2009 because it conveys the themes of hope and change that I want to manifest in the twelve months ahead.

Andrea Gibson is amazing. Truly amazing. She is one of my most favorite poets (on the stage AND on the page) mostly because the thread that unites her poems is one of hope. Even when she speaks of sorrow and atrocities and pain, I can still hear something hopeful flowing underneath. (For example, she has a poem called “Photograph” that I think is wonderful because, even though she’s speaking to someone who has gone, she still has the spiritual clarity and the heartfelt peace to speak the lines “I hope you’re smiling like God is pulling at the corners of your mouth.”)

When you get a chance, visit her website at www.andreagibson.org. It’s a great, well-designed site that features more of Andrea Gibson’s poetry, as well as tour dates and links to her books and CDs.

I greatly appreciate Andrea Gibson’s kind words and her permission in allowing me to post this video.

“For You Democracy” – by Ghenet Tesfai

eargasms — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 21:18:23 +0000

(NOTE: This poem was submitted by a fantastic spoken word artist and friend of mine, Ghenet Tesfai. Eventually we will find a way to videotape local artists and upload them on EARGASMS for you all to see.)

You arrived like a thief in the night

Responsible for pain, truth, genocide

For hopes and dreams put aside

By young soldiers, captivated, left paralyzed

Dreams unseen, pictures that echo throughout eternity

For you democracy

Strong like Goliath, left astray like a pirate

Slaves bodies have embodied the ocean

Like Egyptian mummies to pyramid coffins

For you democracy

As blue as the sky raindrops and tears fill my eyes

For you democracy

Blended hands formed a plan

Denial is soft spoken like a child

New Orleans diminished like a clock that has stopped ticking

For you democracy

Protected, respected, transformed then neglected

Pursuit of happiness where mothers can plant seeds and not have fears of Eve

For you democracy

A beautiful fallacy for peace on Earth can never be

Because of you democracy

Africa is linked through Asian ocean streams

America is free the way Iraq dreams to be

All for you democracy

Depend on God to shield you like the sunlight after a cold night

For you democracy

Are an old friend of mine time after time.

“Knock, Knock” by Daniel Beaty

eargasms — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 13:44:26 +0000

Daniel Beaty is an amazing performer. He speaks with such a sincerity that everything else in the room seems to disappear. There is so much power in this poem, that in roughly two-and-a-half minutes, he brings the crowd from stunned silence to an explosion of standing ovations.