Zora Howard: Youth Poet Laureate of New York
by Enmanuel Diaz | originally posted on March 8, 2010
Founded on the belief that teenagers can and must speak for themselves, Urban Word NYC has been at the forefront of the youth spoken word, poetry and hip-hop movements in New York City since 1999. The NYC Voter Poet Slam program was intended to engage and celebrate youth voices. VAC and Urban Word recognize that youth voice and community engagement are vital for increasing voter participation … and empowering young people to effect positive changes in their communities and beyond.
The dictionary defines a poet laureate as “a poet appointed annually as an honorary position, and typically involved in the promotion of poetry.”
Zora Howard, age 17, senior at LaGuardia High School of Music, Art and the Performing Arts, is New York’s first Youth Poet Laureate. She beat teens in high school and college from all five boroughs for the title. The Voter Slam competition was held at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe and co-organized by Urban Word NYC and New York City Voter Assistance Commission.
The 2009-2010 Youth Poet Laureate Slam Participants were Christian Eatman from Talent Unlimited High School; Lauren Anderson from The Beacon School; Justin T. Long-Moton of Belmont Preparatory High School; Salma Elmehdawi, a student at Fordham University; Dom O Briggs, a graduate of Transit Tech High School; Thaihera Nurse, a student at Townsend Harris High School; Ishmael Islam of Pratt Institute; Nina Spierer from Barnard College; Jordan Franklin, a student at Brooklyn College; Cynthia “Ceez” Keteku, a graduate of South Bronx High School; Jesica Blandon, a student at Dream Yard Preparatory School, and Zora Howard of LaGuardia High School of Music, Art and the Performing Arts.
“It is an unbelievable honor and I am humbled by it,” said Zora. “I am so excited to see what this will bring!” Zora was recently accepted to Yale University and plans to attend in the fall.
At The Brotherhood/Sister Sol, Zora Howard is a member of the International Study Program [Brasil 2009], the Liberation Program, as well as Writers Collective. Zora’s linguistic skills, her metaphors, alliteration, similes, and plays on words make her a great writer as well as an insane poet. She makes tears trail down faces, laughs lighten up sad faces, and causes people to scream for more. Zora is one of the examples that the youth of New York are not only setting examples all over the nation, but also writing their names in stone in the arts. We are revolutionizing poetry, music and visual art.
Enmanuel Diaz is a member of Writers Collective. He is also a member of the Strive 2 Thrive Cipher chapter of The Brotherhood, and he participated in the International Study Program trip to Brasil [2009].
Writers Collective: Love Poems
by Enmanuel Candelario | originally posted on March 8, 2010
February is both Black History Month as well as the month of love. So it was a great time for the Writers Collective to read Nikki Giovanni’s “Love Poems.” Being inspired by Giovanni’s poems, members of Writers Collective wrote poems based on the lines of their favorites from the book.
A popular line that many of the writers connected with was “and i’ve begun/(as a reaction to a feeling)/to balance/the pleasure of loneliness/against the pain/of loving you” from the poem Balances. They spoke to many of the complex relationships that young people face, like loving someone who takes you for granted or disrespects you. The exercise was the perfect occasion for the members of Writers Collective (WC) to explore their expectations for and as girlfriends, boyfriends, and partners, and to lay the foundation for healthy relationships. Some of these poems are about innocent high school crushes, and some give poignant insight into long-term relationships. All of the poems demonstrate WC’s talent at wordsmithing and speaks to their development as reflective, thoughtful, and loving young people.
“Love Poems” by Writers Collective:
a small collection dedicated to all our family and loved ones.
One is to four
As 1 is to love
One is to three
As three is to you
I love you equals being scared
Scared is to hope
That love will never let go
Letting go sometimes is better
Then to hold on is to give up
But moving on leads to learning
And discovering that true love will soon come
Kisbel Garcia
I have seen beauty at its fullest,
I have stood at the face of the omniscient god,
Shaken hands with the devil,
Surrounded by the darkness,
Yet I walk in the light,
I have touched the stars
And I have left footsteps on the moon.
Moon walked over the surface of the sun,
Smiled at the point of death,
Yet it can’t compare
To one look, one glance, one touch.
She washes my pain away,
With small gestures.
Enmanuel Diaz
L.O.V.E. = LOST OF VIRTUE ENDING
Taina Duarte
You are the reason why I save money for 365 days
For something that will make you feel
The same way as I do for only 3 seconds.
You are oxygen to my lungs,
Melody to my ears,
You are also my biggest fear.
Because with one word you can end my universe.
You are radiant light,
That shines up the moon at night.
Lighting my path so I don’t get lost.
You are my reason to laugh, cry, and dance.
You are that tingling sensation
That my soul gets every time
You say,
I love you.
Maxwell Veloz
I like the way you look
I like the way you smile.
We don’t have to talk,
But I’ll listen to you.
I would want you to be my valentine,
But who knows maybe one day it’ll be more.
Tyrone
Enmanuel Candelario is a chapter leader and Writers Collective program facilitator. He is also an alumni member of Lyrical Circle, the original Writers Collective group, who have since performed in venues and colleges across the country, and authored and published Off the Subject, a collection of their poetry.
Bro/Sis Photo@Random
