Favorite Free Verse Spoken Word Ashley HosaRunner-up: Jeff Daniellian Favorite Social Justice Spoken Word Erik AndradeRunner-up: Mx Asher Favorite Youth Poet Angel CruzRunner-up: (by one vote) Josselyn Wolf Favorite Poetry Event Apothica’s Monthly Poetry NightRunner-up: Afroverse Favorite Producer / Organizer Jessica SullivanRunner-up: Sadey Fournier Favorite Narrative Music / Hip-Hop / Rap Chachi CarvalhoRunner-up: Jesse the Tree […]
Voting is now closed — Join us to see who was selected Wednesday, May 276 – 10pmMyrtle, East Providence Join us for the 4th annual Motif Spoken Awards! We are excited to be returning to Myrtle to celebrate RI’s spoken word community. The live celebration, including performances for each category and live voting, as well as the results of […]
Makeup wipes and ripped tights are my remnants scattered on the floor. When the walls of cloth separate me from you, I become nothing. All that’s left of my beauty: a face print on a piece of paper soon to be discarded. Steady gaze, is your recognition going […]
Torches dance above Providence streams. Sparks rise to the urban stars. The river mirrors our brightest passions. Magic is all around, and the most peculiar thing happens: Though my face is wrinkled and my hair is gray I feel the hope and contentment of a child I’m in Rhode Island to stay. by Hellen Schweizer
I want to Be a Dog, Except for that They get Killed by Chocolate, Dump Trucks, and Rednecks And cruelest of all, Faithless neglect. ‘Cause I will never want for faithlessness. I want to Be an Elephant, Except for that because of the Poachers, Lions, Droughts, And Tuberculosis, Their nights are sleepless. ‘Cause I will […]
This poem was originally published on the University of Edinburgh website for winning the 2022 Grierson Verse Prize. https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/writing/olivia-thomakos-what-you-wish-for/ Constantly pestered for coconut pancakes, Spencer threw together breakfast blizzards coated in white shavings and ice cream. Winter weekends left his boys sheltering from their cold father who forced prayer, whispered before they stuffed their bellies. […]
The world is buzzing but I am soft. The wheels are churning but mine are stopped. How long until I find my heart? Oh, she calls from Northern Hills. From daisies, wild blues, indigo flower— far beyond the waking hour. The cycle of my mind’s last wills. I fight every day but it just gets […]
It’s hard to imagine fish again with their little black silksuits, & the how they run to heaven as one. * Menhaden feed the bees, cormorants, gulls and the black eye of the river’s sister: sky. * Providence was built as a purple bowl: enamel, jade. That light. Tallest buildings fill with fishes’ glass, their […]
By Alyssa Souza Without dawn’s permission All this town’s foliage Withers into intangible spindles: Where we can hear the petrichor As it dribbles from Nimbus mouths Into the creek; leaping, fevering, Like a baby stirring in her sleep. Without the fruit’s hope All good done by The sun’s immortal amber Is overshadowed By coldblooded ratsnakes’ […]
There once was a man from Pawtucket And played on his knee a gutbucket With his clever word play People would dance the night away And sculpted him a statue in Nantucket. We’’re sure you expected that one to lead up to a different final line. Limericks are humorous 5-line poems, with bouncy rhythm such […]