Wednesday, May 27, 2009

FIRST


(FIRST) spoken word. I meant to put a lot of my attempts at spoken word up on this blog (that was a large part of the "word" part of the title of this blog), but I've been a little tardy. BUT NOT ANYMORE! Introducing, my first spoken word to go on this blog. (Wooo!)

So a little bit about spoken word (since this is my first spoken word posted on this blog). So I got into spoken word earlier this year. You can find some really good examples on youtube (I suggest Def Jam and Urban World NYC Teen Poetry Slam). When you've watched a sufficient sample of good spoken word (which I have to admit, I didn't really do before I made my first spoken word) you can glean that a lot of the spoken word is about race relations and urban conditions (although maybe that is just because of the samples I am watching), two issues which I have to admit I don't have all too much first hand insight. And for that reason (and many, many, many other reasons) my spoken word is maybe a little trite and I can't pretend it's good. But I still really enjoy spoken word. Spoken word is a very diverse genre, probably multiple genres, but one defining hallmark is a structure to words, in some ways perhaps it should be called 'structured word.' Whether through a central image, or a structured syllabic pattern, or a rhyme scheme, or through connecting images, the key concept of spoken word is a structured organization. And when trying to express the abstract-ness of thoughts and words, that structure is really helpful, even as you enjoy the expressiveness of the poetic aspects of spoken word. Also, I kind of like spoken word because it is one of the very few artistic things I can even try. 

So about this poem. This was written a couple of weeks ago, when this poem pretty much summarized the entirety of a two-week stretch of thinking, which was a little frustrating, but pretty good fodder for a spoken word. It's not quite as relevant to my life anymore, but since the point of this spoken word was to start a turning point, that's pretty cool. I hope you enjoy. An approximation of the lyrics of the poem are pasted below. Before I paste the lyrics though, I had some trouble posting the video on Blogspot ('blogspot (or David) fail'), so I'm using facebook as my video hosting site. I'm not really sure how facebook links work, so hopefully this is a permanent link that works. Please let me know if the link doesn't work. 

Thanks!
Dksays

Link: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=83863510913&comments

Lyrics:

Currently, I’m selling out

Which is funny

cuz there’s not even money

But I assure you

I’m selling out

And I’m looking for an out

 

Right now,

I’m serving on a sliver platter

Whatever I think you think matters

matters is too noble a word to denote the dish

more appropriately a spoiled fish

More specifically my inner soul

Split and sautéed in a sauce that’s pooled

But I expect my auto ten percent gratuity

Estimating that this is qualifying party

But hoping you like me even more

Cash in another five percent at the door

 

But here’s how the evening was usurped

See, you’re turned off wishing you were in Europe,
Where the only thing that are tips are the extremity of an object

And I’m wishing, I’m wishing I was working on a new project

Cuz Speaking of objects, there’s more than that I’d like to see

 

See I’m still just a waiter

But I’ve waited far too long

For this obsession to abate.

So I don’t mean to hate

 

But I strongly dislike

I’d like for it to take a hike

This predilection where I constantly estimate if im liked

So no, I don’t have a resume or an alternative frame of view

But I assure you I’m looking for something new. 


1 comment:

  1. hey dahveed,

    missing your blog updates and daily bits of wisdom and insight!

    ReplyDelete