poetry at Brave New Films

Remembering Mahmoud Darwish - 10 Aug 08

2008-08-15T20:43:00Z

Mahmoud Darwish, The award-winning Palestinian poet, has died aged 67, after heart surgery in a Texas hospital.

Al Jazeera's Jacky Rowland takes a look at a man who widely loved man by Palestinians and poetry-lovers alike.

We Mourn the Passing of "Someone Else"

2008-09-07T18:20:28Z

Mista (Daryl) Funn, of the Art Amok Poetry Slam team performs at the Mocha Match Coffee Bar in Decatur, GA. August 2, 2008

Watch the video

Michael Rosen & Robin Finker: Cultures of Resistance

2008-09-07T18:38:02Z

Michael Rosen & Robin Finker: Cultures of Resistance at Marxism 2008 Festival

Watch the video

Tim McMullen's It Hurts the World

2008-07-09T14:06:13Z

A poem attacking hypocrisy in politics, child rearing, economics...I'll bet you've never heard so many interesting rhymes with the word "world."

It Hurts the World

There is one thing you can't deny
It hurts the world to live a lie
Your singular? It must be pluraled
You can't deny it hurts the world

You chauvinist with flag unfurled
You can't deny it hurts the world
In fighter's stance with fingers curled
You can't deny it hurts the world

You parent with a cruel word hurled
You can't deny it hurts the world
"Just say, 'No!" while your drink is swirled
You can't deny it hurts the world

Change I and me to us and we
Beyond your pond is one great sea
Now think of all that it might be
If we rid it of hypocrisy

You brag about how hard you try
Then blame it on the other guy
Discount those things your money can't buy
It hurts the world to live a lie

Your necks and wrists all diamond and pearled
You can't deny it hurts the world
That horde you have...how hard you've squirreled
You can't deny it hurts the world

Change I and me to us and we
Beyond your pond is one great sea
Now think of all that it might be
If we rid it of hypocrisy

written by Tim McMullen
©2000

Watch the video

Tim McMullen's Pledge of the Politically Correct

2008-07-09T14:02:52Z

Original aphorisms followed by a scathing poem about the flag desecration controversy and the hypocrisy of flag flapping patriots. Lots of alliteration.

The Pledge of the Politically Correct

Angry Americans clamor
For Constitutional Changes
To Protect the National Symbol
From Despicable Desecrators
While patriotic Auto Antennas
Proudly display their
Tattered Flag Rags
Flapping fiercely in the wind

by Tim McMullen
©1992 All Rights Reserved

Watch the video

Killer lines with John Hegley

2008-09-07T18:25:51Z

Poet John Hegley at Friends of the Earth/Whitechapel event - Poison and Antidote. John answers some of your difficult questions.

Watch the video

Lemn Sissay : Marxism 2008

2008-09-07T18:38:03Z

http://www.marxismfestival.org.uk
Part of Lemn Sissay's set at the spoken word session of Marxism 2008 festival in central London July 5 2008

Watch the video

Adrian Mitchell reads Brecht: Marxism 2008

2008-09-07T18:38:03Z

http://www.marxismfestival.org.uk

Watch the video

John Hegley: Down at the depot: Marxism 2008

2008-09-07T18:38:03Z

http://www.marxismfestival.org.uk

Watch the video

4th Declaration

2008-07-02T07:19:39Z

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America
When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

(Words in parentheses are mine,
others by, John Hancock, and we should
heed these words again, today)

We hold these truths to be self-evident,
(That is what they knew was true)
that all men are created equal,
(And they all knew this, too)
that they are endowed by their Creator
with certain unalienable Rights,
(That Freedom, is for all people
and for what, a brave man, fights)
that among these are Life, Liberty
and the pursuit of Happiness.
(The citizens of our Nation
fought for, their rightful redress)
That to secure these rights,
(We will do what we must)
Governments are instituted among Men,
(A government, we can trust)
deriving their just powers
from the consent of the governed,
(It’s, we, the people who will rule
That’s what we have learned)
That when any Form of Government
(Think they rule the Land)
becomes destructive of these ends ,
(We, the people, will take a stand)
it is the Right of the People
(What, our Constitution decrees)
to alter or to abolish it,
(Before, they bring us to our knees)
and to institute new Government,
(we can vote all of them out)
laying its foundation on such principles
(What our Country is about)
and organizing its powers in such form,
(To what the people will)
as to them shall seem most likely
(Duties, they must fulfill)
to effect their Safety and Happiness.
(So, we shall not regress)
Prudence, indeed, will dictate
(Be careful, what is changed!)
that Governments long established
(When needed, rearranged)
should not be changed
for light and transient causes;
(that our quest for our Rights
is not stemmed by wordy clauses)
never ends or pauses and accordingly
all experience hath shewn that mankind
(Is a species craving freedoms.
Of life on Earth, a unique kind)
are more disposed to suffer,
(Which, we have had our share)
while evils are sufferable
(But eased, when others care)
than to right themselves by abolishing
(Watch out, what you let go)
the forms to which they are accustomed.
(And the life we’ve grown to know)
But when a long train of abuses
(Seems lately, there’s been many!)
and usurpations, pursuing
(And the meanings, they convey)
invariably the same Object
evinces a design to reduce them
(They try to end those rights)
And try to change their idem)
under absolute Despotism,
(If that’s how the try to rule)
it is their right, it is their duty,
(To use the voter’s tool)
to throw off such Government,
(From this land of the free)
and to provide new Guards
for their future security.
Such has been the patient
sufferance of these Colonies;
(Before the time of statehood)
(They longed for freedom’s bounties)
and such is now the necessity
(The time for change was due)
which constrains them to alter
(A new Government, too)
their former Systems of Government.
The history of the present (It was cruel and unjust)
King of Great Britain
(A man they could not trust)
is a history of repeated
(Time after time again)
injuries and usurpations,
(Constraining all free men)
all having in direct object
(Control by the Crown)
the establishment of
(to try to beat them down)
an absolute Tyranny over these States.
(But, we finally changed that King’s mandates.)

Del “Abe” Jones
06.28.2008

"Mankind’s greatest accomplishment is not the revolution of technology it is the evolution of creativity " copyright Del "Abe" Jones 1984 Please visit http://mywebpage.netscape.com/delabejones/page4.html for more of my poetry

Billy Collins - "The Lanyard"

2008-07-15T09:28:06Z

Complete video at: fora.tv

Former U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins reads his poem, "The Lanyard."

-----

Poet Billy Collins is a unique literary figure - a widely read contemporary poet. The former US Poet Laureate and New York State Poet has received fellowships from the New York Foundation for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Guggenheim Foundation, though his most dramatic honors come from a wide and appreciative readership. Collins's poetry collections, including The Trouble With Poetry and Other Poems, Nine Horses, Sailing Alone Around the Room, and Picnic, Lightening, have broken records for poetry sales. His writing is marked by inventiveness beyond traditional poetry forms with ironic twists and lyrical turns of phrase that resonate powerfully. An advocate for integrating poetry into everyday life, Collins compiled the anthologies Poetry 180 and 180 More with poems for every day of a typical school year. Billy Collins has been a professor of English at Lehman College of the City University of New York since 1968 - City Arts & Lectures

Billy Collins is the author of several books of poetry and two anthologies of contemporary poetry, including The Trouble with Poetry: And Other Poems; The Arts of Drowning, which was a finalist for the Lenore Marshall prize; and Questions About Angels, which won the National Poetry Series in 1990. He is also a distinguished professor of English at Lehman College (CUNY). Collins served as US Poet Laureate (2001-2003) and as New York State Poet Laureate (2004-2006). Collins' poetry has appeared in The American Poetry Review, Harper's, The New Yorker, and The Atlantic, among many other journals and periodicals. He has received fellowships from the New York Foundation for the Arts, The National Endowment for the Arts, and the Guggenheim Foundation. He has won several awards and prizes.

Watch the video

Billy Collins - "Litany"

2008-07-13T13:04:02Z

Complete video at: fora.tv

2008-06-15T15:34:11Z

► 2Girls1Cup2.com

Singer/Actor, SAM HARRIS, recites CRANK THAT by Soulja Boy!

WELCOME!

Enjoy the literary classics as read by Reverend Samuel Harris. In a world library of the greatest Authors, Mr. Harris chose a piece of lyric poetry that spoke to his heart. So, sit back, and take in the emotional adventure of the mind to follow.

FREE audio MP3 of this Crank That video: www.mediafire.com
(Sam's recital, not Soulja Boy's song)

These are the original lyrics before the many revisions you might have heard...

CRANK THAT (a.k.a. Crank Dat SupaMan)
Song lyrics written by Soulja Boy Tellem
As read by Actor and Singer, Sam Harris
(a.k.a. white honky cracker)
with Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber

Soulja Boy Off In This Ho
Watch Me Crank It
Watch Me Roll
Watch Me Crank That Soulja Boy
Then Super Man Dat Ho
Now Watch Me Do
(Crank Dat Soulja Boy)
Now Watch Me Yua!
(Crank Dat Soulja Boy)
Now Watch Me You!
(Crank Dat Soulja Boy)
Now Watch Me You!
(Crank Dat Soulja Boy)

Soulja Boy Off In This Ho
Watch Me Lean And Watch Me Rock
Supa Man Dat Ho
Then Watch Me Crank Dat Robocop
Super Fresh, Now Watch Me Jock
Jocking On Them Haters Man
When I Do Dat Soulja Boy
I Lean To The Left And Crank Dat thing
(Now Yua!)
I'm Jocking On Yo Bitch Ass
And If We Get The Fightin'
Then I'm Cocking On Your Bitch
You Catch Me At Yo Local Party
Yes I Crank It Everyday
Haterz Get Mad Cuz
"I Got Me Some Bathin Apes"

I'm Bouncin On My Toe
Watch Me Super Soak Dat Ho
I'ma Pass It To Arab
Then He Gon Pass It To The Low (Low)
Haterz Wanna Be Me
Soulja Boy, I'm The Man
They Be Lookin At My Neck
Sayin Its The Rubberband Man (Man)
Watch Me Do It (Watch Me Do It)
Dance (Dance)
Let Get To It (Let Get To It)
Nope, You Can't Do It Like Me
Hoe, So Don't Do It Like Me
Folk, I See You Tryna Do It Like Me
Man That Shit Was Ugly

I'm too clean off in this ho
Watch me crank it
Watch me roll
Watch me crank that Roosevelt
And super soak that Hoe
supersoak that Ho
super soak that Ho

I'm too fresh up in this bitch
Watch me shuffle
Watch me jig
Watch me crank my shoulder work
Supa man that bitch
Super man that bitch
Supaman dat bitch

Haterz Wanna Be Me
Soulja Boy, I'm The Man
They Be Lookin At My Neck
Sayin It's The Rubberband Man (Man)
Watch Me Do It (Watch Me Do It)
Dance (Dance)
Let Get To It (Let Get To It)
Nope, You Can't Do It Like Me
Ho, So Don't Do It Like Me
Folk, I See You Tryna Do It Like Me
Man Dat Shit Was Ugly

Soulja Boy Off In This Ho
Watch Me Crank It
Watch Me Roll
Watch Me Crank Dat Soulja Boy
Then Super Man Dat Ho
Now Watch Me Do
(Crank Dat Soldier Boy)
Now Watch Me Do
(Crank Dat Soulja Boy)
Now Watch Me Do
(Crank Dat Soulja Boy)

► SamTUBE.com ...

► SamVLOG.com
... behind the scenes in the everyday life of Sam.

► AskSamHarris.com
... ask Sam anything, and he'll reply via a vlog.

► SamHarris.com
... answer link from the "Ask Sam Harris" series.

► MySpace.com
... keep up to date, and be Sam's MySpace friend!

2008-09-07T18:20:30Z

Spoken word artist Theresa Davis performs at 1st Iconium Baptist Church in a prelude to Atlanta's Jan. 26, 2008 People's Movement Assembly.

Watch the video