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Introduction

What does it mean to be in a place and yet feel completely out of place? To be surrounded by people whose pulses throb in a beat that is unfamiliar to you? This spoken word poem explores the strange burden of loneliness in the midst of others, as well as the silent pain that arises when "you" is absent. It conveys the conflict between presence and absence, belonging and detachment, with striking imagery and deep emotion. This piece considers the general yet personal question: How do we go through areas that seem more empty—not because there aren't any people there, but rather because there isn't that one distinctive presence? 

Literature Review

One of the pieces that inspired me was Maya Angelou’s poem called I Rise; the reason why this inspired me is because of the emotional weight behind the poem. The challenges she faced as an African American woman and how she would be in spaces where people would intimidate her, however, she did not let any of that bring her down. There is a new piece of work that I have found recently called The Poetics of Space by Gaston Bachelard is a major scholarly influence on my work. Bachelard investigates how humans perceive personal spaces such as rooms, and how our feelings, thoughts, and imaginations influence their significance. His thoughts on philosophy might affect how I portray the mental and physical strain in a space where people don't seem to connect.

Methods

Methods that have been used include looking at previous works by poets and spoken word artists to help me curate my capstone.  While crafting my spoken word, I used repetition, rhymes, and alliteration. This capstone with the literary themes can draw my audience in and feel like they are experiencing what I am saying in real time. Another method I’m using is practicing some lines with more emphasis because that is one of the concepts of a spoken word.

Audience & Impact

Initially, this capstone was aimed at minorities/immigrants but over time, my spoken word transformed to be about how you feel when you are the only person in a space that is not you and you feel out of place; this can be aimed at anyone because many people have felt this way once in their lives. This project is aimed at everyone. Everyone no matter what background will get a deeper understanding of what I am saying and what similes or metaphors mean when I discuss certain situations where we feel like hiding or wanting to express ourselves. In being in a space where you feel like no one can understand you it is very hard for us to connect to, especially with people around us. We have to find our group of people who feel oppressed. It is not easy to talk about these things with white people and therefore, I want my spoken word poem to be sort of a safe space for people to connect with me personally. After I perform, I want my speech to stir up the conversation and make others comfortable and confident within themselves because, in the end, they don’t have to rely on others or put on a show to please others.

References

Angelou, Maya. “Still I Rise.” Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation, 1978, www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46446/still-i-rise. 

Bachelard, Gaston. “Gaston Bachelard’s ‘The Poetics of Space,.’” Gaston-Bachelard-the-Poetics-of-Space.Pdf, 1958, sites.evergreen.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/88/2015/05/Gaston-Bachelard-the-Poetics-of-Space.pdf. 

Acknowledgements

First and foremost I would like to thank myself because if it was not for me fighting throught the things I was going through while making this capstone, it would've never come into frutition. Finally, I would like to thank Heather for helping and believing in me.