Spoken Word. Graphite and Watercolor. 2011.
The inspiration for this piece came from participating in my school’s poetry slam. I wanted to capture the body language and gestures that go into delivering spoken word. Poetry is always meant to be heard but spoken word carries a physical component as well, as far as the performer is concerned. In a way it’s like dancing; a story told by the words is felt in the facial expression, tone of voice, and movement of hands.
This is the accompanying poem: (same title as the piece)
When I write poetry
I do not write with my hands
I write on them,
The word of my soul incarnate
carried by the voice that speaks it.
Cadence is undulation of sound
that moving hands push out
to reach the furthest minds
for these words are not found
rather they are received.
After all it is an act,
not a nound or thing,
an act
that is never static, only alive.
