Poetry, Videos, Stories oh my!

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If you enjoy viewing the video's I created with my original spoken word poetry from my  independently produced CD  "SISTER WINGS, SPOKEN WORD SONGS, BASS & BEATS"

(SR) ASCAP (C) 2005 

Download of vocal & music tracks are  available at www.CDBaby.com

Please excuse the photos as the pixels are not clear and many were scanned and taken before HD;-)

Teaching the legacy of Martin Luther Kings Jr.

Her Story on the "I Dreamt, MLK Jr." Poem 

"On July 10, 1999 James Farmer died, he was a close friend of Martin Luther King Jr. He walked with Dr. King for full freedom of Africans in America.  It just so happened as I watched the news of James Farmers death, I was preparing a school program and researching Martin Luther King, Jr's life.  

I shared my findings with my teenage son, (who presently is a human rights attorney liscenses to practice in PA & NJ. )  who I felt, viewed Dr. King, the way I saw Abraham Lincoln...as history. 

In the moment, I couldn't find the words to explained to my son, why Dr. King was such a courageous visionary.  How he was a voice for millions, and his voice made a huge difference, even today. What could I do? So I did what I've often done since grade school. When I needed to express what was in my heart, I wrote a poem.  In one sitting, the thoughts dropped in my mind, pen to paper."

 IS THIS REALLY A POEM?

 Writing down whats on my mind is natural, spirit driven.

  My poetry teacher is LIFE.

 Academic setting is where I lost my mind - good thing I found it in the street. 

Regurgitating egos into alphabets...a total mess 

Don't trouble me. I'll write you out in a poem! 

For FREE. 

What poet makes money?  What poet has a career in poetry?

This ain't even rhyming 

Marry poetry to music & own your publishing.  

I'm a Poet?...maybe...it is free therapy  

Cuz even Nikki & Sonia 

& 

most every poet who thinks they are a poet

 keeps a day job. 

(c) 2017 Oni Lasana  

Thanks to Debra Wright, also a poet and founder of the For Woman Collective, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for bringing the Sonia Sanchez Mural Arts Haiku project to my attention.
Haiku's is a  form of Japanese verse, written in 17 syllables divided into 3 lines of 5, 7, & 5  

The following are my submissions for the project.

(C) 2012 All Rights Reserved

 Oni was a featured storyteller at the New Jersey Storytelling Festival in 2014. It was held in New Jersey at the GROUNDS FOR SCULPTURE.  The following photo was taken in a life size installation of imagination on the would be world of the artist Vincent Van Gogh.