Poetry, Videos, Stories oh my!

Oni's acrostic poem...

Create yours with the first initials of your name!

LADIES LUNCH & SOIREE ~ LANCASTER, PA

SISTER WINGS & 'LIAS' MOTHER

JAZZ & POETRY SHOW ~ PHILADELPHIA, PA

FEATURED POET @ BIG TRIGGER'S SOUND OF JAZZ & POETRY SHOW

~ Spoken Word Visual Video ~

Do 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;-)

Oni's Signature Poem

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 black folks in America.  It just so happened as I watched the news of James Farmers death, I was preparing a school show and researching Martin Luther King, Jr's life.  

I shared my findings with my teenage son, (who presently serves as an attorney in human rights)  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.

I Dreampt, MLK Jr.

A video excerpt from Oni's original visionary tribute poem. 

Words by Oni Lasana 

Music by Samori Coles of lil drummaboy, LLC Philadelphia. 

To read the full poem, 

please visit Oni's blog at end of this page.

April - National Poetry Month in USA

 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 jobs. 

(c) 2017 Oni Lasana  


Rock & Rollin' Uptown Theater

ONI'S SHORT STORY BIO WAS ONE OF 20 WINNERS

THE BENJAMIN FRANKLIN "AUTOBIOGRAPHY PROJECT" WAS A CHALLENGING 300 WORD CONTEST. 

ONI'S STORY ABOUT THE UPTOWN THEATER WAS POSTED AT THE BUS STOP SHELTER AT 20TH & WALNUT ST. PHILADELPHIA

To read the story, visit Oni's blog "Adventures In Storyland" at end of this page.

HEAR ONI IN THIS AWARD WINNING BOOK!

LISTEN TO ONI SOLO RAP DUNBAR'S "WE WEAR THE MASK" ON PAGE 56,

ALSO FEATURED WITH NIKKI & VAL GRAY WARD ON PAGE. 54, GWENDOLYN BROOKS, "WE REAL COOL"  & MARTIN LUTHER KINGS SPEECH ON PAGE 64. 

NIKKI GIOVANNI introduces ONI

PANTENE TOTAL YOU TOUR, ONI RAPS "WE WEAR THE MASK" FOR MC LYTE & AUDIENCE in Philly

Hip Hop Speaks To Children

Nikki Giovanni giving Oni props on the book project!

HAIKU POEMS


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

Haiku's ~ Oni's Myku's

MUSIC

 Make me dance all day
See me reach out in to the light
Know me in a song 

TRAVEL

Travel unravels
Stereotypes fall apart
Releasing our fears

FAMILY

More than blood thru veins
Family hopes tears joys and pains
Connect in one love

PEACE

Peace, silent words heard
Inside our mind space in time 
Whispers unknown ...ssssh

MONEY

People make money
Money makes people mo' friends
Money goes friends end

MURALS

Old houses light up
Walls reflecting our history
Murals tell stories 

SISTER WINGS, SPOKEN WORD SONGS, BASS & BEATS!

INDEPENDENTLY PRODUCED ORIGINAL POEMS SET TO THE BEATS OF SAMORI COLES OF lil drummaboy music, Philadelphia, SOUNDBOY of Coatesville, PA, DENNIS THOMPSON of Jamaica & ONI'S on BASS GUITAR.

FEATURING: WHY I WRITE, LOVE MUST FALL, OUT OF THE PHYSICAL, ALL THAT, ANOTHER WOMAN THANG, HIGHER EDUCATION, I DREAMT, MLK JR.

AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD @ CDBABY.COM

ANOTHER WOMAN THANG

ONI'S STATEMENT POEM ON THE POWER OF WOMANHOOD, IS PUBLISHED IN THIS BOOK OF SHORT STORIES AND POEMS, FOR WOMAN,  EDITED BY DEBRA POWELL-WRIGHT 

IN THE COMPANY OF POETS

Philly's First & Finest Female Spoken Word Ensemble 

L-R: DEBRA POWELL-WRIGHT ~ ONI LASANA ~ PAT MCLEAN ~ NISH PUGH @ AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM OF PHILADELPHIA


Why I Write by Oni Lasana

Spoken word from Sister Wings, CD. A experimental collaboration. Please excuse the low pixels in the photos...many were taken before HD. Oni wrote and delivers this mix over the groove of Samori Coles of lil drummaboy LLC, Philadelphia

Oni's Blog - Adventures in Storyland

Contact Oni *!*

SPOKEN WORD LIKE YA NEVER HEARD

AVAILABLE TO HOST INTERACTIVE  STO'TRY (storytelling & poetry) SESSIONS FOR CONFERENCES 

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Storytelling ~ Wellness ~ Language Arts ~ History ~ Music ~ Theater