To Speak, With Love

One of the things I will miss the most when I move 1,800 miles away from Boston down to Houston, TX is Speak For Yourself: BU's one and only spoken word poetry group. (Check out the article on our latest show!) I joined SFY two years ago in the spring of 2011. Since then I have been fortunate enough to perform at 47 different events/shows most of which were Speak related. My writing and performances have grown and developed into something I am proud of (most days) and the positive feedback and support I've receieved from friends, audience members and complete strangers has been mind-blowing. But hands down, the most important and precious thing SFY has done for me over the past two years is bring some truly talented, lovely and outrageous people into my life!

The friends I've made through SFY are rare gems and our relationship is not one I take for granted. They are some of the only people in Boston who I can be 100% open and honest with about anything. There's no pressure to pretend; when it's been a rough week they give me the freedom to say so. Though they offer me unconditional acceptance, I also know that they will challenge me as a writer and performer. If something I write is sub par, they'll tell me as I will tell them. If my performance is stale and has become routine, they won't smile and say "it was good!" We will work together, trying different approaches, until the piece has recaptured its energy and lives up to its fullest potential. We've grown expectant of critique and grateful for the honesty.

When it comes down to it, my love for our little group of poets is simple: we are who we are. Speak For Yourself is potentially the only "judgement free zone" I've encountered in Boston. It's a group where no topic of conversation is off limits, no emotion is too heavy, no expression of self is unacceptable and no creative risk ever goes unacknowledged. It's been an honor to write, perform and share life with these poets and I will carry our three rules with me wherever I go: No Intros. No Apologies. Third Rule.

SPEAK LOVE!

Here are some poetry videos for you to enjoy. The first one is my newest poem (haven't written since October...I'm overdue) called "Forest Fires." It used to be named "That Night" but I added my part of "The Last Time" group piece to the front end of it and edited some lines so I gave it a new title to complete it's overhaul. "Forest Fires" can stand alone or can be experienced as the final part of a three part series including Turnstile and When The Fever Breaks. When performed together these three tell a complete story. The second video is Speak For Yourself's group piece "The Last Time" from our Sex, Love and Poetry show in October. It was kinda thrown together last minute, but we did our thing. NO APOLOGIES, remember? The third video is just fun. And the final video is something I watched today for the first time and liked enough to share with you! Enjoy!

The Last Time...

The Speak For Yourself Executive Board performed a group piece themed, "The Last Time" at our Sex, Love and Poetry Show in October. The following is my excerpt. I also used this short piece as an intro to "That Night" at the Allston Poetry Night Show in November by switching the second and third verses. Clever, eh?

"The last time I fucked myself up, I rode white-knuckled and raging right in front of a bus. The twisted metal says I should be dead. But sometimes love means getting lucky.

The last time I loved, I left black mascara stains on someone else’s pillow case. I waited four hours for the sunrise to punch the wind back into my lungs. By then he was gone. I still cry when I think of you.

The last time someone held my hand, we were awkwardly side-stepping, tuning our waltz to the woman’s accordion. I would have clumsy danced with you all night, just to remember what it feels like to be grounded."

The Best Story Ever Told (Part 6/6)

This post is the final of a six part series featuring a creative short story written for Camp Squanto this past summer. The outline of the story (characters, setting and basic plot) was crafted by several Squanto Staff members. The narrative was written by me, Steph Braman, to be used by the staff as they brought the story to life with homemade props, fantastical costumes, imaginative set designs, and enthusiastic acting! Enjoy...
Read Previous Chapters Here: Part One -- Part Two -- Part Three -- Part Four  -- Part Five

 "Better Together" - Chapter Six

The Incredibles arrived in the Town Square to find Lord Farquaad once again mocking the townspeople and throwing up gingerbread buttons into the air and catching them in his mouth. Every time his knights would applaud and cheer for him and his twisted little tricks. He stood up on his royal throne and announced, “I am the new ruler and King of the Land of Farquaad and I hearby challenge anyone who thinks they can defeat me to show themselves and enter into battle against me!”

                No one said a word. The fairy tale creatures cowarded back in fear and shame. Just when it looked like Farquaad would forever go unmatched, Dash and Violet ran out from the edge of the forest.

                “We’ll take you on! We want our brother back!” they shouted in unison.

                Violet and Dash fought Farquaad and his knights with their powers. Alone they would have lost almost as soon as they had begun, but together they were unstoppable. Dash ran circles around the knights, tying them up in rope as he went while Violet set a force field around Faraquaad preventing him from moving. She became invisible and saved Jack-Jack from his grip as Dash through a bag over Farquaad’s head and tied up his feet. With their baby brother safe and all of the evil villains captured all of Far Far Away celebrated and Lord Farquaad and his knights were disposed of in the lake with the help of Shrek and Donkey.

                All was well in Far Far Away once again. Candy was bountiful and all the creatures were free to have fun in their little fairy tale land. After thanking Shrek and Donkey for all their help, Dash, Violet and Jack-Jack made their way back through the time warp to the Incredible Family Home. 

 

                “Oh, so nice to see you two back home safe and sound” Elastigirl delighted.

                “What did you two learn out there in a far off time and place?” asked Mr. Incredible.

                The young super heroes started in on all the lessons they had learned with the help of their magical friends. They told tales of trial, teamwork and victory. And in the end, they learned that they are far better together then they ever could be apart.

                And everyone in all times, places and dimensions lived happily ever after.

THE END!

The Best Story Ever Told (Part 5/6)

This post is part five of a six part series featuring a creative short story written for Camp Squanto this past summer. The outline of the story (characters, setting and basic plot) was crafted by several Squanto Staff members. The narrative was written by me, Steph Braman, to be used by the staff as they brought the story to life with homemade props, fantastical costumes, imaginative set designs, and enthusiastic acting! Enjoy...
Read Previous Chapters Here: Part One -- Part Two -- Part Three -- Part Four

               "Better Together" - Chapter Five

Stoked on his heinous defeat of Violet and giddy about his evil plan for take over using Jack-Jack’s powers, Lord Farquaad deemed the next day: Farquaad Day. All of Far Far Away was full of doom and gloom as a new flag was raised honoring the villain. Farquaad’s lackeys roamed the streets terrorizing any and all creatures who darned speak out against his name. All the candy from the enchanted forest was gone, all the gingerbread people had their buttons yanked off and the only utensils allowed in the land were Farqs: a devilish tool, not quite a fork but not quite a spoon. Far Far Away was now under the reign of Lord Farquaad and the future of the land looked quite bleak. The people of the town were outraged and their spirits broken. But hopelessness was not the only thing spreading. Rumors of super heroes teaming up with Shrek and Donkey were floating around and all the fairy tale creatures kept their eyes and ears open for signs of a battle between good and evil!

 

                At every meal throughout the day, Lord Farquaad sat at the King’s Royal Table and feasted on the most decadent foods. Double Chocolate Milkshakes from the finest of cows, licorice and gumdrops delivered from Hansel and Gretel, and all the buttons from all the gingerbread people in the land lay out for Farquaad’s feast. The people of the town were forced to watch as Farquaad gorged himself on sweets and mocked the starving children who had been starved of candy for a whole day! While Farquaad and his knights were distracted at the feast, Shrek, Donkey and the Gingerbread Man had dug up the secret hidden key to the candy house in the enchanted forest. Ever so quietly, they tip toed around the evil ones and presented the key to the some of the children crying from candy hunger pains. After the feast, everyone flocked to the candy house and rejoiced in their first victory against Lord Farquaad.

 

                Relishing in their candy coma the creatures of Far Far Away hid away in the forest for some time when out from the bushes came Violet, Dash, Donkey, and Shrek! Donkey had brought Dash to the same hideaway that Shrek brought Violet to after saving her from her near watery fate. After Lord Farquaad’s take over, Shrek and Donkey asked the Incredibles to help restore fun, candy and fairy tales to the land. Upon seeing the crew, the townspeople and creatures bombed them with stories of doom and gloom from Farquaad Day. Desperate to defeat Farquaad Violet and Dash began to talk strategy.

                “I know I can beat him! I’m way faster than any of them! You should have seen me out run his knights Violet. I was like zoooommm, pow, zip and they didn’t even know what was happening. Just let me go and beat him on my own” said Dash jumping up and down emphatically.

                “Dash, you’re being ridiculous!” Violet sighed. “We both know that I have the greater powers. I know he beat me once, but I swear I’ll make a bigger force field next time. Let me go save Jack-Jack so we can get home!”

                Donkey and Shrek listened to the brother and sister bicker and go back and forth about who would go take back Jack-Jack and save Far Far Away from Lord Farquaad’s rule. Tired of all the bickering and knowing that teamwork is always better than trying to work alone, they spoke up. The dynamic fairy tale duo used their friendship as an example to persuade the Incredibles to use their super powers in tandem to defeat the evil villain. Dash and Violet considered the wise advice from their new friends and set out to together as a team to put an end to Lord Farquaad’s terror once and for all.

...To Be Continued...

The Best Story Ever Told (Part 4/6)

This post is part four of a six part series featuring a creative short story written for Camp Squanto this past summer. The outline of the story (characters, setting and basic plot) was crafted by several Squanto Staff members. The narrative was written by me, Steph Braman, to be used by the staff as they brought the story to life with homemade props, fantastical costumes, imaginative set designs, and enthusiastic acting! Enjoy...
Read Previous Chapters Here: Part One -- Part Two -- Part Three

 "Better Together" - Chapter Four

It had been hours since Violet saw any sign of Dash. Tired of waiting around for him, she decided to find Lord Farquaad herself and foil his evil plan without the help of her brother. She made her way through town meeting some very friendly fairy tale creatures as she quickly approached the castle. Along her journey she ran into the gingerbread man once again. Falling at her feet he gasped, “You must help us, super hero girl from a strange planet! Lord Farquaad has found a baby that looks like you and your brother. He is going to use Baby Jack-Jack’s powers for his evil takeover! You must do something!”

                Violet’s heart dropped. “How did Jack-Jack get here? What am I going to do? Mom and Dad will kill me if we don’t get him back safe.” she panicked. “I’m just going to have to face Farquadd on my own. Forget Dash. I don’t need him!” and she took off towards the castle.

Once at the entrance of the castle, Violet used her powers to turn invisible and sneakily slipped through a side door. Immediately she head Lord Farquaad’s evil laugh and she turned to see him standing over a crib in the next room. Curious to see what Farquaad was hiding Violet crept closer and closer to the crib. Peering in over Lord Farquaad’s shoulder Violet saw a helpless but happy looking baby Jack-Jack! As Farquaad mumbled his evil plan for Jack-Jack to himself once again, Violet knew it was time to take matters into her own hands. She set out a force field over Jack-Jack and attempted to dodge past all the knights to grab him out of the crib. While the knights were not very smart, they were strong indeed and they created a human fortress around the crib preventing Violet from saving Jack-Jack. In all the chaos she lost focus and her invisibility wore off, blowing her cover. Lord Farquad grabbed her by the arm, “You will never defeat me you stupid little girl! Your powers are useless against me. Soon your baby brother will be an evil prince reigning over the Land of Farquaad! Knights, throw her in the lake so that she might never return!”

The knights ripped Violet away by her arms and legs and dragged her down to the murky lake. With one giant heave ho they tossed her in, never to be seen again. But just as the knights turned and galloped off back towards the castle, a humongous green ogre crept out from the shore of the lake. Jumping in, Shrek valiantly swam to Violet’s rescue! Neither one made a sound as they drifted to safety unnoticed by the knights and Lord Farquaad.

 

...To Be Continued...