Today was the last day of high school for the Simsbury Union of Slam Poets, and as we disband, we want to thank everyone for their help and support. Union leader Aaron Burrick will continue to post poems and updates on his new site, which will be available soon under this page’s links. Have a great summer everyone, it’s been a wonderful year of learning and growth.
SUSP out, 6.15.2010.
Posted in Recent News
Check out the ill William Lloyd Garrison quote. Though it originally pertained to slaves, secession, and national turmoil, it is still relevant to the art of slam poetry.
SUSP prevails.
“I will be as harsh as truth and as uncompromising as justice. On this subject, I do not wish to speak, or think, or write with moderation. I am in earnest. I will not equivocate, I will not excuse, I will not retreat a single inch, and I will be heard.”
Posted in Recent News
The Simsbury Union of Slam Poets will now be meeting at their home base of Simsbury Public Library on Wednesdays, not Tuesdays, at six o’clock. Feel free to come share your poems, get inspired, or generally admire SUSP for all that it is worth.
Posted in Recent News
I just spent the last forty-five minutes typing this great review of last night’s performance at Real Art Ways in Hartford, CT. In my hurried typing, I pressed backspace, which is probably one of the dumbest keyboard shortcuts in Mozilla Firefox. I lost it all, and I will not attempt to rewrite it. I apologize, massive group of readers anticipating my next witty post. Hopefully you’ll all stick around.
In other news, I have been selected to read in Simsbury’s Night of 1,000 Stars, where local “celebrities” share an influential passage from their favorite book. It should be an awesome time, and events like these are always super interesting.
ab
Posted in Recent News
The short answer is: nothing.
The longer answer is, courtesy of Mr. Michael Kim, only one word longer. It is: Mental constipation. Living every day with the trials and tribulations of being a high school senior, the Union has been faced with a severe lack of ideas and inspiration. But we endure. We continue to meet up, unwind and discuss ideas, and search for inspiration in the world around us.
As desperate as this may seem, there couldn’t be anything better for a poet to do. By finding inspiration in our ordinary surroundings, we can take usual, innocuous themes and events and turn them into epic poems. We can simultaneously renew our abilities as poets and people, constantly refreshing our view on the earth. There is nothing better than challenging your mind, NYC poet Taylor Mali said it is one of the only ways to prove “that you still have one”. But I’m starting to rely on extensive clauses and commas, so hopefully that speculation wasn’t too pretentious. A poetic example of what I just attempted to explain…
Burned (3-1-2010)
To blame the coffee or the soup, that is the lingering question
the piping-hot black elixer that cures me from last nights recklessness
or the soul-warming vegetable soup that mother prepared
steaming and scalding when the spoon comes to my lips
both equally potent and capable of inducing three to eight days of pain
three to eight days of taste receptor hell
and a startling inability to enjoy Sour Patch Kids
Posted in Poem Samples, Recent News
The first SUSP performance, held on the 10th at the Simsbury Public Library, was a huge success. We extend our thanks to the (double digit) crowd we hosted and hope to see all of them again in February.
After a brief creative hiatus, the Union will continue its weekly meetings tomorrow night at the library, kicking off a busy winter. Keep your eyes open for a performance in East Hampton’s Epoch Arts, a great night that is currently in the works, thanks to math teacher and real world liaison Mr. Sanderson.
Posted in Recent News
This Thursday, December 10, The Simsbury Union of Slam Poets will be holding its first performance at the Simsbury Public Library. The best part of this rhythmic, musical, and possibly “foodful” affair is that it’s FREE. Oh right, the poets are pretty good too. Need I say more?
Posted in Recent News
Slamming poems outside
Words and cars whip by my ears
Rhythm of the street
Circle in square of brick
I react to words with tears
With silent Laughter
Cold hands shake my paper
Syllables floating through space
Through minds to reach souls
The union listens
Poems litter the autumn air
Rhymes fill canvas pages
Tom slams a haiku
For poetic symmetry
And written justice
Of spoken words
By a union of poets
From here, Simsbury
Posted in Poem Samples
Good news from the touring front, The Simsbury Public Library has changed our show dates to allow us use of the PROGRAM ROOM. This room, much larger, fancier, and slightly less colorful than our previous venue, holds a ton of people, so make sure to be there! All shows are held in the Program Room, starting at 6:00 PM. New dates have been updated onto our Live page and are listed below:
AUTHENTIC TEEN VOICES, hosted by Simsbury Public Library
Thursday, 12/10/2009
Thursday, 2/11/2010
Thursday, 4/8/2010
Posted in Recent News
Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, we are proud to present the first set of SUSP performances. Based out of the Simsbury Public Library’s Discovery Room, these shows will feature our poets and their creations. Centered around the theme of “authentic teen voice”, these performances may not be appropriate for all ages. Even so, there will be many poems that everyone can enjoy, so don’t hesitate to stop by! Check out the new “SUSP Live” page for more touring and booking information.
NEW TOUR DATES:
Authentic Teen Voices
Simsbury Public Library’s Discovery Room
Tuesday, December 1, 2009.
Tuesday, February 2, 2009.
Tuesday, April 6, 2009.
Tuesday, June 8, 2009.
Posted in Recent News
