Inklings Prompt, 11/22 NaS & Conflict

This prompt yielded some absolutely dope-tastic poetry at the last inklings session. I give thanks to all who came out and hope everyone enjoyed it!

1. Write down 5 internal conflicts. (These are battles that you have with yourself)

2. Write down 5 external conflicts. (These are battles that happen in the world.)

3. Here are some excerpts from Poetic Rapper NaS's lyrics. Read through and analyze. Try and find places where he references external conflicts, or talks about internal conflicts.

I. What you call an infinite brawl, eternal souls clashin' War gets deep, some beef is everlastin' Complete with thick scars, brothers knifin' each other up in prison yards, Drama, where does it start?

II. Jesus died at age 33. There's thirty-three shots, From twin glocks. That's sixteen a piece, That's thirty-two. Which means, one of my guns was holdin 17; Twenty-seven hit your crew, six went into you. Everybody gotta die sometime; Hope your funeral never gets shot up, bullets tear through the innocent Nothin is fair, niggaz roll up, shootin' from wheelchairs My heart is racin', tastin revenge in the air

III. Political thugs in shark suits persuade us to pull triggers in army boots, yellin' "Join the armed forces!" We lost the Vietnam War, intoxicated poisons. Needles in arms of veterans instead of bigger fortunes There's still a lot of nigger-calling in the corporate offices. War in the ghetto, we crabs in a barrel, they torture us They won't be servin' the beast too long The murderers wearin' police uniforms, confederate flags I burn Beat Street breakers were dancin' to the music I chose And Peachtree Atlantic crackheads was tootin' they nose in frozen corners of Chicago, loaded up Llama's children with fo'-fo's, and double-revolvers. We devil incarnates, headed for jail Where Shell gas company in South Africa be havin' us killed Your paper money was the death of Christ. And all these shorties comin' up just resurrect your life It's like a cycle... IV.

But what's it all worth? Can't take it witn you under this Earth Rich men died and tried, but none of it worked. They just rob your grave, I'd rather be alive and paid Before my number's called, history's made. V. I clapped at Satan, but thought I was dreaming. I woke up masturbating in a bed full of demons. I cried with every ounce of strength in my small body. This is the life I chose. I'm the God, I'm tiny. It's hard to find me. The reason these passages were selected is because of the way in which NaS commonly conflates the internal with the external (e.g. [iii] eternal life vs. death, and revenge). 4. Now use one (or more) of the internal conflicts you wrote down and one (or more) of the external conflicts you wrote down and describe your internal conflict(s) in terms of your external conflict(s). Alternatively, write about one of the excerpts.

Writing Contests

Hey everyone,

I stumbled on this excellent site which lists almost a hundred different writing contests. It covers poetry, short stories, fiction, nonfiction, compilations, etc. I'm posting the link below. You should check it out!

> Poets & Writers Magazine

Inklings Prompt for 11/15: Instructional Poems

This week's prompt features a poem by Sierra DeMulder, the Minnesotan spoken word veteran who will be featuring in our November Slam this Friday. We also have the treat of an open writing workshop with Sierra on Saturday from 1-3pm in DUC Classroom 239. If you're excited about her work, be sure to stop by.

1. Make two lists.

• List 5 experiences you've had that are unique to you.
• List 5 experiences you've had that lots of people have.

2. Read through this poem by Sierra DeMulder:

At First Sight

When she stops kissing you
with her mouth open,
find the screw driver.

Buy a newly cut shank of beef.
Leave so much blood in the kitchen
she has to ask what happened.

when she stops calling you baby,
hide the silverware
between the couch cushions.

Send her there to sleep.
If she does not complain,
let the sinks in the bathroom overflow.

Bake the wedding photos
in the dryer. Stand in
the middle of your flood.

Call her name backwards, forwards.
Wave your arms like your chest is a runaway.
She is the plane you are crashing.

When she does not reach
for you, pretend
it is the first time

you’ve met.

3. Now, choose an experience from one of your two lists and write a poem giving instructions on how to live or handle that experience.


There were some breathtaking poems at Inklings last night. I take this as a good omen for our poetry-stuffed week.

I hope to see all you lovelies at the Louder Than a Bomb documentary showing tonight!
Meet at Whisper's Cafe at 6:15 to walk over as a group, OR
bring yourself to the Tivoli Theater by 7.

It's unclear how much tickets cost, but from the Tivoli website it looks like general admission is usually $9. Bring some money so you can get in.

Spires Deadline Approaches: Monday, 11/15

Hi, lovelies. I want to make a habit of posting publication opportunities on TiMPH, so our readers can get a head start on making a name for themselves in the print world. I'm envisioning a super-convenient, consolidated resource for poets, centered in the Washington University and St. Louis communities.

(Also in my heart of hearts I secretly dream that the Slamily will fill up all Washington University publications, taking the literary world by storm with our raw brilliance!)

The one that's most recently come to my attention is Spires, Wash U's Intercollegiate Literary/Arts Magazine.

From the Facebook event:

"Young artists, poets, fictionists, interlocutors, and scribblers, the time has come again to PUBLISH your fiction, poetry, and prose in Washington University's Intercollegiate Literary and Arts Magazine.

Ask yourself: what am I going to do with all this sweet short fiction, poetry, and art, that I have been writing/creating, over the last year? Forget about it? Forget about it! Instead, send it to us. We'll look it over, scrutinize it until our eyes bleed, and see if there's a place for it in this semester's magazine.

Please SUBMIT your stuff to spiresmagazine@gmail.com by the deadline, November 15th.

Email us with any questions! ANY questions!"

Got that, poetasters? Send your work to Spires! I know you have it, Inklings folk. No excuses. Chop chop.

If you're ever interested in getting feedback on your writing prior to submitting it, stop by WUrkshop. We meet from 8:00-10:00pm every other Thursday to work specifically on writing craft - any kind of writing craft. Short stories, poems, plays, what have you. Yesterday we had an artist's statement, so you see. The next meeting will be after Thanksgiving break on December 2nd.

If you hear about publication opportunities, let us know at wu.slam@gmail.com so we can toss 'em up on the blog.

> Submit to Spires! Facebook event
> Spires Intercollegiate Literary/Arts Magazine Facebook page

Poetry Things This Week

Dear Slamily: Get your notebooks and your cough drops and prepare yourselves for the most poetry-saturated week of excellence ever.

Friday (tonight!), 11/12 & Saturday, 11/13
Diwali

For the first time WU-SLam is a part of Wash U's annual Diwali performance - so exciting! The Diwali show is organized by Ashoka (Wash U's South Asian student organization) and it combines music, dance, fashion, and theater, and now poetry. Come for a colorful multicultural experience, and see P-Crew's own Fiona O'Leary Sloan and Gabe Cralley perform a group piece on this year's theme, "Love in the Time of Partition."
Friday @ 7:00pm, Saturday @ 12:00pm & 6:30pm; Edison Theatre

Monday, 11/15
Inklings

Inklings Writing Workshop as per usual. This week's prompt will be inspired by the poetry of Sierra DeMulder, who will feature in the November Slam on Friday.
8:30-10:30pm, Ursa's Fireside

Tuesday, 11/16
Louder Than a Bomb Documentary at the Tivoli

Join the WU-SLam crew at the Tivoli Theater to see this documentary about Louder Than A Bomb (LTAB), Chicago's youth slam competition. WU-SLam president Lauren Banka says, "I've seen it and it's absolutely phenomenal. Beyond being just incredibly well-made, it's really inspiring as to the real impact of poetry and slam poetry in particular on people's lives. Kevin Coval, the co-founder of LTAB, will be in town to talk about the film." Facebook event here.
7:00pm, Tivoli Theater on the Delmar Loop
(meet us at 6:15pm in Whisper's Cafe to walk down together)

Wednesday, 11/17
Poetry Workshop with Kevin Coval

Kevin Coval, Chicago poet and co-founder of Louder Than a Bomb, will host an open writing workshop this Wednesday. Kevin says, "i like intimacy. so the wednesday reading/workshop can be about new work and producing new work. it would be great to get the slammers who are rehearsing that night to be a part of it if possible. perhaps a feedback session... i would like to share some new work and talk maybe about producing new work and as a writer staying writing. it would be cool to hear from folks and offer feedback and talk about building a collection." Facebook event here.
8:00-10:00pm, DUC Room 236

Thursday, 11/18
Persian Poetry Night

WU-SLam Performance Crew has been invited to perform a few poems at a Persian Poetry Night event. More on this as soon as I hunt down the details. It sounds like quite an interesting experience.
Time & location TBA

Friday, 11/19
November Poetry Slam ft. Sierra DeMulder

This month's big shebang and this crazy week's real poetry shindig is WU-SLam's November Poetry Slam, hosted by 2009 NPS winner, Sierra DeMulder. Sierra hails from Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she is a member of the Intangibles Spoken Word Collective. Her poetry is personal and intense and she doesn't shy away from the grotesque. In this penultimate slam of the semester, 8 poets compete for 2 slots in January's Grand Slam: you decide who moves on. Facebook event here.
7:30pm, College Hall (on the Wash U South 40 Residential Area)

Saturday, 11/20
Poetry Workshop with Sierra DeMulder

After featuring in the November Slam, the beasty poetess Sierra DeMulder will stick around to teach a writing workshop to any interested parties. Hear some wisdom from a published poet and veteran of the slam team, and get your post-slam inspiration down on paper. Facebook event here.
1:00-3:00pm, DUC Room 236

So that's our busy, busy week. There are a crap-ton of amazing opportunities crammed into just a few days - I hope there's at least one thing that fits into your schedule. If you come to nothing else, check the slam in the brand new Hogwarts-esque College Hall. There's nothing like the energy of a full house at a poetry slam.

Love, poems, squids.

> Facebook event for Louder Than a Bomb documentary
> Facebook event for Kevin Coval's workshop
> Facebook event for November Poetry Slam ft. Sierra DeMulder
> Facebook event for Sierra DeMulder's workshop

Totems, Spirit Guides, and Power Animals (Inklings Prompt 11/8)

Opening Question

Q: What do Inception’s Totems, the Penguin from Fight Club, and the Patronus Spell from Harry Potter have in common?

A:They all have their roots in ancient beliefs.

~~~

Helpful Definitions

Totems support larger groups than the individual person. In kinship and descent, if the apical ancestor of a clan is nonhuman, it is called a totem. Normally this belief is accompanied by a totemic myth.

In Inception, totems are figurines used by the characters to make sure they can distinguish between reality and dreams

~ ~ ~

Power animal, is a broadly animistic and shamanic concept that has entered the English language from Anthropology, Ethnography and Sociology. A tutelary spirit guides, helps or protects individuals, lineages and nations. In the shamanic worldview, everything is alive, bearing an inherent virtue, power and wisdom. Our power animal(s) represent our connection to all life, our qualities of character, our power.

~ ~ ~

Spirit guide is a term used by the Western tradition of Spiritualist Churches, mediums, and psychics to describe an entity that remains a disincarnate spirit in order to act as a guide or protector to a living incarnated human being.

~ ~ ~

Poem Portion

Now:

Write down what your totem (Inception Style) would be, and how’d it help distinguish between dreams and reality

Write down what your power animal/spirit guide would be and why you selected it

Now to write one of three poems

-A conceit (extended metaphor) about the totem or metaphor as it relates to you

-An epic (narrative story) about the discovery of your totem/spirit animal

-An apostrophe (direct address or questioning of) to the totem or spirit animal

October Slam Videos Online

Hear ye, hear ye!
WU-SLam posts October Slam videos on YouTube channel! View them while they're hot!

Not to say they'll cool down or anything. But there's something about a steamy fresh-cooked playlist that is extra delicious.

Unfortunately Carvens Lissaint, our October Slam feature, requested that we not post video of him online. His set completely blew me away, so it's a shame we can't share it with the world. However! The rest of the slam is online, including the open mic and the phenomenal 8 poets who competed. Check it out here.

In the mean time, here's Naia Ferguson, first place winner of the October Slam.



So much dope. You don't even know.

Stay tuned for info on the upcoming November Slam, featuring Sierra DeMulder.

>> October Slam YouTube Playlist