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