I just posted a performance of “Angels” that was taped at Writing Wrongs Poetry on January 26, 2010. I performed a slightly ad-libbed version of the poem during the open mic that night, which preceded the 2nd Annual All-Ohio Battle Slam. You can watch the clips below:
As part of my effort to redesign this blog, I have changed the Raven’s Wing Press page to a new layout. The page should be easier to navigate, and now includes sub-pages for each book I’ve published. Sample poems from each book are now in HTML format.
I have designed them with a new WordPress theme in mind, so they won’t quite look the same when I complete renovations. My target date to complete the redesign is March 1, 2010.
Please take a few moments to look at the new pages, and let me know what you think via comments on this post or backchannel (ravenswingpoetry AT gmail DOT com). Your input is much appreciated.
-Nicole Nicholson
Founder, Raven’s Wing Poetry
This was written for Read Write Poem Prompt # 112: The Narrative Wallpaper. I decided to continue the story from last week’s poem, Endgame. I wanted to see what happened to the speaker in the poem. I looked at a stretch of highway near where I lived and tried to capture how it looked a couple of mornings ago — then, I used it as a backdrop for the poem/story.
Enjoy.
-Nicole
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I watch alien armies of metal men raise
morning above the mist, which itself floats
delicate and dangerous above the freeway. They are
lined up, perfect poles stuck in stationary, rooted in
the cement wall that splits this asphalt in two. First, a line of
grey dancers, poised with arms in a double arc like
wings spread. They hold a yellow streetlight in each palm like a
pair of strange pale eyes above the freeway. Ahead of them, Continue reading
Dan Vaughn, T Miller, and Eboni Hogan will feature at Writing Wrongs Poetry Slam in February!
Dan Vaughn Features @ Writing Wrongs
Dan Vaughn will feature first on February 16. According to WW, Vaughn “has been a staple in the Milwaukee Poetry Slam scene since its conception, representing Milwaukee 8 times at the National Poetry Slam. Don’t miss the opportunity to see this Midwest Force in person.”
T Miller and Eboni Hogan Feature @ Writing Wrongs
T Miller and Eboni Hogan will both feature at WW on February 23. Some info about these ladies from WW follows below:
“T Miller is a Detroit native that is a two time WOWPS Finalist and multiple Detroit National Team Representative. Eboni Hogan is an Urbana Poetry slam Grand Champion and two time Nuyorican Poetry Slam team member, including the 2009 National Poetry Slam Finalist team. You don’t want to miss these two Femme Fatales do their thing at Writing Wrongs.”
WW also notes that “there will be an Open Mic and Slam that night too, so get there early to sign up. With such a packed schedule, WE WILL START ON TIME!” So no Poet Standard Time, folks.
All shows start @ 8:00 P.M. and are held at Urban Spirit Coffee Shop, 893 E. Long Street, Columbus, OH (View Map). Cover for each event is $5.00.
Oh yeah — and don’t forget about the next slam for NPS contention @ WW, scheduled for February 9.
Writer’s Block Poetry announced the beginning of its 2010 National Poetry Slam season on Tuesday The first preliminary slam was on Wednesday, January 27. From the WB Listserv’s latest email:
“January marks the traditional beginning of our NPS season, where we have preliminary slams to pick our team for the trip to NPS in August. The season runs 6 preliminary slams, and then a Grand Slam to pick the top 4 poets that will make up the team. We added a preliminary slam to the season this year, so good luck!”
A complete schedule follows below for those interested in either watching or competing this season to be on the team representing the WB at the 2010 National Poetry Slam, which will be held in St. Paul, MN in August (dates and more details will be released later this year — check http://nationalpoetryslam.com/ or http://www.poetryslam.com/ for more details).
The final Grand Slam will happen on May 26. The top 8 scoring poets from this slam season will compete for placement on the WB Team.
For additional details, check out the links below:
Writing Wrong Poetry Slam posted its 2010 National Poetry Slam season schedule. The first slam was on January 12, with Nicole Homer and Omar “Ion” Holman featuring before the first contention slam. The rest of the schedule is listed below:
The Grand Slam, which will determine the four team members that will represent Writing Wrongs at the 2010 National Poetry Slam, is scheduled for April 27th.
You can find current WW Slam Season results here.
The 2010 National Poetry Slam will be held in St. Paul, MN in August (dates and more details will be released later this year — check http://nationalpoetryslam.com/ or http://www.poetryslam.com/ for more details).
In case you haven’t heard by now, I’ll mention that Columbus, Ohio is hosting the Women of the World Poetry Slam in 2010. WOWPS will be held March 10 – 13 at various venues in the city (see below for details).
From Poetry Slam, Inc.:
“As one of the 20 biggest cities in the US and the largest city in Ohio, Columbus offers all the resource, venue and location needs for this event catering to hundreds of participants including competitors, organizers, volunteers, audience members and emcees.”
The city and the poetry nights around Columbus are proud and excited to have this event coming. Please, if you are in or near Columbus, I urge you to come out and support this event, which is sure to be high-energy, electric, exciting, and an advancement of the art of poetry slam.
The WOWPS website has a wealth of information, schedules, and etc. for this year’s slam. Please check out the following links for more information:
Mike “Spike” Cowell will be the feature at Writer’s Block First Draft Poetry on Friday, February 19 @ 8:00 P.M. He will performing a set of all-new poems that night. His feature, as always, will be followed by the traditional First Draft open mic.
More details about the show will be posted once they are announced.
For those not familiar with the night, First Draft is a poetry night where new poems and new poets are always welcome. Cover is $3 for the night. Come on out and share your *new* poetry — and be prepared for an awesome feature!
For more info about Writer’s Block’s First Draft Night, check out:
http://writersblockpoetry.rewritingovid.net/FirstDraftOpenMic.php
Writer’s Block Poetry has announced two special shows in January:
January 6 (that’s tonight, folks!): Paulie Lipman from Denver, who is on tour, features at WB. Check out two videos of him performing, “Potential” and “Field of Flames”.
January 13: IWPS and WOWPS Finalist Nicole Homer and National Poetry Slam Finalist Homer “Ion” Holman visit the WB.
For continuing WB schedule updates, visit http://writersblockpoetry.rewritingovid.net/Schedule.php or http://community.livejournal.com/wbpoetry/.
Writing Wrongs Poetry Slam announces their show schedule for January 2010:
5th: Open Mic (The first show of the new year)
12th: IWPS and WOWPS finalist Nicole Homer and National Poetry Slam Finalist Omar ‘Ion’ Holman FEATURE! Also the first Slam for Team contention. Team rules and schedule go to the website
19th: Open Mic
26th: Battle of Ohio Slam II! Cleveland, two Columbus Teams and Dayton will face off against each other. This is THE Slam to see and its going down at Writing Wrongs.
For more info about Writing Wrongs Poetry Slam:
From Writing Wrongs Poetry Slam:
“It’s the 2nd Annual Battle of Ohio Poetry Slam and its coming back to Columbus! This time the Urban Spirit Coffee Shop will play host when teams from:
All meet up to duke it out on stage. You DON’T want to miss this show!
There will be a very limited Open Mic, so get there early to reserve your spot on the list!”
When: January 26, 2010
Time: 8:00 P.M. – 11:00 PM.
Where: Urban Spirit Coffee Shop, 893 E. Long Street, Columbus, OH View Map
Since it is the close of another year, I thought I would post my thoughts today.
First of all, I want to say “thank you” to the readers of Raven’s Wing Poetry. Many of you who have visited RWP since its inception in 2008 have watched me emerge and grow as a poet. You have been honest with me about my work, and that honesty has helped me strive to write better and better. I have come a long way since the first poem on this blog, and I will continue to challenge myself and grow further as a poet with each new work that I write.
Continue reading
