Put your stones back in your pocket, there’s nothing freaky going on here. Minds out the gutters please. Great, now we can begin.
For today’s episode of Writer’s Quote Wednesday, Colleen has asked us to appreciate a few poets. Initially, I was going to share something from Melvin B. Tolson but I have instead chosen this one from Nikki Giovanni for a few reasons:
The reason I went with this quote is because I look for quotes that instantly speak to me. This is when I know I have selected the appropriate one for the week. So anyway, as soon as I read this quote I was put into the mind of poetry. Nakedness reminds me of writing poetry because to write poems is to do so in a way that communicates, that bridges gaps, and that builds and to do this properly, at least in my opinion, is to get naked. By getting naked I just mean to be transparent. It is to strip yourself down to complete humility so that you can share poems that actually speak to people. Sometimes poems seem so extremely personal that it seems like it’s too much, an over share if you will. And while I will never tell you to just tell all your business, I will say that if you enjoy poetry you will hear some pretty personal stuff. It’s the poets’ way of getting naked because the fact of the matter is that transparency speaks. You don’t necessarily have to be all deep in the over intellectualized kind of way no, but poets should have something to say that will help others to cling onto that testimony like a bond. This is why poetry is so emotionally charged because people will always be able to relate to the real and poetry is that real. Good poetry is the whole experience. It’s the taste, the touch, the sight, and the feel.
About the Author:
Born Yolande Cornelia on June 7, 1943, Nikki Giovanni is a writer, commentator, activist, and educator. One of the world’s most well-known African American poets, her work includes poetry anthologies, poetry recordings, and nonfiction essays, and covers topics ranging from race and social issues to children’s literature. She has won numerous awards, including the Langston Hughes Medal, the NAACP Image Award, and has been nominated for a Grammy Award for her Nikki Giovanni Poetry Collection. – Wikipedia
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“Maybe I’ll use poetry to C-Section my insides
besides
I’ve got to have some kinda gut
to stand up here and strip for you”- Yecheilyah
The PBS Blog 