'Man' by Dyphrent is Write Out Loud's Poem of the Week
The Write Out Loud Poem of the Week is ‘Man’ by Dyprhent. It’s a poem with a powerful beat, and begins: “Man / Man like stone / Man like mountain / Man like blood and bone …” In her Q&A interview Dyphrent says that she began writing poetry because of “the dance of the words”. Her favourite poem is ‘Who Learns My Lessons Complete’ by Walt Whitman, which she read at her mother’s funeral. She has been writing poetry "for as long as I have been able to write".
What got you into writing poetry?
You know, I can’t remember the first poem that I ever heard or read, but I believe what got me into it was the dance of the words. They can go anywhere and do anything, unlike in prose, and I found that to be beautiful.
How long have you been writing?
I have been writing poetry for as long as I have been able to write, so about four or five years old. They were disjointed and immature at first, but, I kept at it.
Do you go to any open mic nights?
I have in the past, but I am just beginning to get back into my poetry, so I have plans on going to some in the very near future.
What’s your favourite poem/poet?
I have a lot of favourite poets, but my favourite poem is ‘Who Learns My Lesson Complete’ by Walt Whitman. It is a very quiet yet powerful poem. I actually read it at my mother’s funeral.
You’re cast away on a desert island. What’s your luxury?
Well, you didn’t say just one, so my Bible, some chocolate, and sunshine.
MAN
by Dyphrent
Man
Man like stone
Man like mountain
Man like blood and bone
Man
Man like weather
cold and slate gray
Man like steel
sharp and double-edged both ways
Man
Man like hard
Man like beast
Man like charred
Man
Man like rough
Man like still
Man like tough
Man with heat like noon
Man with voice
deep barrel chest boom
Man
Man like God made
Man like on face to Jesus
Man like man saved
Cynthia Buell Thomas
Tue 21st Mar 2017 12:05
A very interesting work, like a chant with drums or clapping, and dancing, the subject 'song' being thrown from singer to singer to insert their ideas as they can or wish, thinking on the spur of the moment. Thoughts sometimes seem elaborated by the next person, or dropped entirely for a new idea. Any effort to rhyme is highly respected.
Perhaps that is why the word 'man' seems to embrace both a 'male person' and the idea of 'mankind'. This is a really complex understanding perhaps not grasped by 'all the singers', and they can contribute only what they 'know'.
My thoughts have come from this perceived spontaneity.