InsideOut Alum Breaks Ground at Michigan State University

InsideOut Alumnus’ Groundbreaking Poem
William Langford at 2007 CWP Slam Tryouts

William Langford, Citywide Poets (2007), was invited to be the student speaker at groundbreaking ceremonies September 16, 2010, for the new Wells Hall at Michigan State University. Will’s brilliant poem “Legion” received a standing ovation and is featured on MSU’s YouTube.
It’s been quite a month of honors for “Will ThePoet” who also took first place in the poetry slam at the Detroit Jazz Fest, winning the right to open for Branford Marsalis in Hart Plaza on Labor Day. Will is now a senior majoring in English at Michigan State, where he founded the MSU Poetry Slam team. As an InsideOut student, he edited his school’s literary magazine (Cass Tech’s Ambiance, 2004-2007), participated in Citywide Poets, won a trip to New York as a member of Detroit’s Brave New Voices Youth Poetry Slam team, and took awards from the Michigan Youth Arts Festival and the Columbia Scholastic Writing Awards. Please join us in congratulating our wonderful alumnus.

Poem of the Day

In Memory of D’Andre Hewlett

D’Andre was the sound of a siren.

He was a boy who liked to dance freaky.

When I think of D’Andre I feel like

a shiny star that will never shine again.

Or an ocean that won’t make any waves.

Daisy Diaz

Poem of the Day

My Dream Car

Cheryl Durden

The car that can do my hair.

The car that has hearts and red flowers.

The car that has a jacuzzi in the trunk.

The car that can do my homework.

The car that has a shoe shiner in it.

The car that has hydraulics.

The car that has a big screen TV.

The car that can eat a house.

Poem of the Day

Love Loves the Earth (To Be Sung)

Capri Beasley

Oh the earth loves us

And the sky loves the clouds

And the sea loves the shore

And time loves the changes

And the sun loves the sky

And the river loves its size

And love loves the earth

And love loves us.

Poem of the Day

So Much Depends Upon a Mom

Sadie Simmons

at first to

change your

diaper at the

end to lend

you money

what would

you do

if you

couldn’t depend

on a mom?

Poem of the Day

Dog’s Best Friend

Write a poem, said the man,

I need to be inspired before I write,

said the Dog

Well, watch T.V. then!

said the man

You know what, GET LOST!

said the dog.

I don’t wanna be your pet

said the man.

I don’t care, I don’t like you,

said the dog.

Timothy Jackson

Poem of the Day

Twins

Bob: You look exactly like me.

Peter: No, you look like me.

Bob: No, you’re a Chinese cat. I’m a horse.

Peter: I’m not a Chinese cat for your information.

Bob: What are you then?

Peter: I’m a horse like you.

Bob: I’m your twin.

Peter: I said I’m YOUR twin.

Bob: I heard you the first time.

Peter: Okay. Just making sure.

Bob: Where did you come from?

Peter: I came from China.

Bob: See, I told you you’re a Chinese cat.

Bob: I’m your twin for the LAST TIME.

Enter HOT DOG

Hot Dog: Hello, I’m Hot Dog.

Bob: Are you a real hot dog?

Hot Dog: Yes.

Peter: Do you come with ketchup?

Hot Dog: No, why?

Peter: Just asking.

Bob: Where do you come from?

Hot Dog: I’m from Planet Hot Dog and I’m the mayor.

Peter: Can you take me to Planet Hot Dog?

Bob: Don’t take him. He’ll eat you.

Peter: No I won’t!

Hot Dog: I will take both of you and you may have as many hot dogs as you would like!

Lina Tate

Poem of the Day

Reboot

5:00 a.m., snooze button.

5:25 a.m., snoose button.

5:45 a.m., snooze button.

5:55 a.m., I drag myself to the bathroom.

With the flick of a switch

everything around me is illuminated.

Everything except the window, still black

from the night.

The world is still asleep.

The clock and my heart are out of sync, but

they fill the air with explosions.

As I take a shower, the window glows.

The celestial daily visitor is here again.

Slowly, but surely, things return from

the dark.

Awake is the puppy I look after.

Awake is the phone that never leaves my side.

Awake is the dusty TV though it is never on.

Awake are the birds that sing before the stereo.

Awake is that place where I’ll be for seven hours.

Awake is the car that will take me to that place.

Awake is the air that we take for granted.

Awake is the ground that holds us up.

Awake is what everything will be till dusk.

Joseph Hardville

Poem of the Day

You

You are the ink in my pen,

the words on my paper.

The north star in my sky.

My nightlight in the dark night.

The rhythm in my music.

The words to my song.

Juan Alcantar

Poem of the Day

Call Me Lokopoko

Call me Lokopoko

because my eye is a joke-o.

I talk-o like this-o

because my name is Lokopoko.

When-o I was-o younger-o

I looked different-o

a nice-o brown-o face-o.

I-o like-o the sky-o

that-o is why-o my eye-o

looks-o like this-o.

Autumn Frederick