The video below is an example of "Def Poetry." The poet performing, "Shihan" is most
commonly known from HBO's Def Poetry. For the past 15 years, Shihan has
been co-hosting Da' Poetry Lounge, the nation's largest open mic night
held in Hollywood, CA. A
native of New York’s Lower East Side and a current resident and local
legend of Los Angeles, Shihan is undoubtedly one of the most dynamic
spoken word artists of our generation.
What is Def Poetry?
"Def poetry is a form of poetry typically based on urban culture and
themes, often with an expressed focus on the African American
experience. While not defined purely by racial themes or poets, and
anyone of any race or cultural background may compose such works, there
is certainly a precedent for African American poets in this art form.
This type of poetry typically serves to illustrate the experiences and
lifestyle of those who grow up in urban environments. Def poetry can
take a number of different forms, depending on the poet, though it typically expresses personal opinions and life stories." Source
This week take a look again at the video we viewed in class and react to it. What is your opinion of this example of Def Poetry? Do you like it or dislike it? Why? Give reasons to support your opinion. In your response also be sure to explain one example of a poetic device (metaphor, simile, alliteration, personification etc.) that Shihan uses.
Your post is due no later than Friday at 5pm and must be at least 8 sentences.
I liked it but he talked extremely fast. It was to hard to understand. I liked his choice of words as well. He used poetic devices. I found an example of alliteration, "song and say" "man and mother." i would listen to another one.
ReplyDeletei liked but he talked too fast. it was like rap but with no music in the background. I like rap. My favorite artist is Lil Wayne. He used poetic devices like alliteration "song say" and "moving mountains
ReplyDeleteI didn't have a clear understanding of it because I couldn't understand much of what he was saying. From what I understand, it was very good. His word choice was awesome. He used a ton of poetic devices. He used alliteration several times. For example, "Melody's outta moonshine fingers". I would listen to something like that again because it was very powerful.
ReplyDeleteIn the video the man did good poetry and I liked it. I liked how he had the courege to get up on stage and say the poem. The way he said the poem made it very powerful. One way he said the poem was with poetic devices. He used a metaphor near the end wich gave the words more power to get throught to the peoople he was talking to with his poem. He also used a alliteration. He used the alliteration by making two words that start with the same letter. For example if someone said happy hamsters that would be a aliteration. I think the man speaking did a good job making his poem come to life.
ReplyDeleteI like the video because it was strong and deep. For example, his daughter asked him “Daddy, do you still love me?” He got really emotional when he said that. It looked like he was gonna cry. Shihan uttered really fast. It was hard to understand. I don’t think I would be able to talk that fast! Overall, I like def poetry.
ReplyDeleteCould you imagine going up on stage and rapping and reciting a poem. I know I couldn’t. I t would take a lot of courage to do something like that. Shihan was talking about his family and how he never gets to see them. He also said that his daughter asked if he loved her. Shihan said “I have no metaphor for that”. I do: When she said that my heart burned to ashes. I really like def poetry It expresses the real side of the speaker. Def poetry is like a writers best friend. It seems to be really hard to do. Clearly, Def poetry is very influential.
ReplyDeleteI like this example of Def Poetry because he was talking really fast like he was rapping. Then, he was talking about his family. Next, he said that "my eyelashes are pregnant with guilt." It's a metaphor. He's talking about almost crying because he is upset about daughter. Overall, I would like to listen to something like this again because it was a true story.
ReplyDeleteWhen first viewing this Def Poetry in class I didn't know what to think or more like I didn't understand it. After viewing it again, I began to understand the message. He was talking fondly of his family in a strong and powerful way. One example of a metaphor Shihan uses is he compares his son to a mustard seed. A mustard seed is small. But, even though when a mustard seed is planted it it is the tiniest of seeds, it grows into the largest of gardens. Shihan's son is small too, but Shihan believes that one day he will do something big and more amazing than you could ever imagine, just like a "mustard seed moving mountains." So, yes I like def poetry and all that is too it.
ReplyDeleteShihan starts his poem talking about his family. He uses a simile in the begining of his poem.He says, "like a musturd seed moving a mountain like a grain of sand." He talks about his daughter and his son in his poems.He says he never gets to see them because of him traveling.he says that his daughter said to him " dad, do you still love me."Then, when he was done, he said "I hope that this poem is worth me missing my daughter for." He is very emotional and intense about his family and he is able to express this through poetry.
ReplyDeleteI like how Shihan started his poem because he started off with talking about his family, mostly his daughter and son. His poem was really powerful and strong. He used a ton of poetic devices, but I really like one in particular because I get what it means. It is a simile and he said like a mustard seed. That means his son is really little and he wants him to grow up and be a really great grown man.
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning of Shihan’s Fathers Day poem, it was nice because he was speaking about his family mostly his son and daughter, but later on, I thought it got a little off topic. But in the poem I actually found some alliterations in there like “makes melodies after moonshine” and daddy do you…”, and I found some personification like “eyelashes pregnant with guilt” and one simile “like a mustard seed.” Def poetry to me is nice because it has a meaning to it and it can be about something I am interested in like all poems.
ReplyDeleteAs I watched the clip from "Def Poetry" all I could say was wow. This man shows so much in only 2 minuets. When he talked about his daughter, I got a little emotional. I started to think when I was a little girl and when I got upset when my dad would tour around the world and I didn’t see him. I would ask myself “When is daddy coming home? Was he gone forever? What did I do?” I would always get so happy when he came home. This man talked about how his daughter meant everything to him. I could tell he started to get emotional when he talked about his daughter, asking him if he still loves her. I made connections with that because I would always wonder why daddy was gone. I remember when my parents told me about my dads band and why we has going away. He wasn’t going away because it was my fault. The man in “Fathers Day” asked the audience if coming here is worth him missing his family. Missing his little girl. This is one of the most excellent poem I’ve heard. I really connected with him when he said “my eyelashes were pregnant with guilt.” It’s a great metaphor. One of the best I’ve heard. This poem was very emotional and I loved it.
ReplyDeleteI like this video because, he was using similes a mustard seed moving mountains like a grain of sand, metaphor, alliteration. When he used that in his video it made it easier for me to
ReplyDeleteunderstand. He was truthful, determined to get people to speak there mind. It was like rap with no music. His poem didn't rhyme but all poems don't have to rhyme. When he said is this worth missing my family.
I do like it because he is talking about his family. He is talking good things about his family. But he talks too fast! I wish he talked slower because I would understand him.
ReplyDelete