Morgain MacDonald

I have seen you perform several times this semester. What are you feeling when you go on stage?

Nervous! I'm extremely nervous. I'm afraid I'll forget my words, the whole nine yards.

Do you feel like there is a fine line between spoken word poetry and acting or performance? What do you think about that?

I think spoken word is very dynamic and yet still a performance. However, you're not putting on a performance. Instead you are tapping into something deeper. I believe it's about thinking about the words and what you are sharing that make it so powerful and inspiring.

When and how did you become introduced to the poetry scene and slamming?

My older sister first introduced me to it while I was still in high school. But I didn't know much until I got to college. I went to a few slams my sophomore year. So I was getting more exposure to it over the years.

What about those arts caught your attention?

Well I had been writing for a while, but never anything good. I come from a musical background and I feel that poetry has a rhythm within it. So since I'm a failed musician, I found poetry more of what I wanted to do.

What topics or situations inspire you to write? Why?

I tend to write a lot about my response to society. The way that society has viewed me, either discouraging me, uplifting me, or how I respond to it. It's like writing about human nature and how life affects me. For instance, my hair poem was inspired from how people would constantly ask me when I was going to straighten my hair. So I wrote about it. It's just another way to tap into my emotions.

Which poets do you look to for inspiration? What about their poems entice you?

Maya Angelou is one of my favorite poets. Lately I haven't read much poetry, but she is definitely my number one poet. The first poem I read by her, "Our Grandmothers," talked about the struggles of Black Women in America and how they were expected to fail. There was so much strength in her words: "I shall not, I shall not be moved;" when these women were told that they could not make it, they challenged the system. It was just very powerful and moving.

Define what slam poetry means to you.

Oh that's tough. I think it's the performance aspect of spoken word. It's making others feel your words as well as yourself. If you aren't feeling your words then it comes out like blah. It's giving that extra oomph into your poetry that makes it different.

How do you plan to continue using poetry outside of college?

I feel it's just another way of self expression in a way. It has become like my diary and I just write. I think it will continue to be another part of me for writing in general.

Could you describe your first experience slamming?

My first time slamming, I was terrified. There were about 12 people in the audience, all of whom I knew, but I was still nervous. I had an option of using the mic or not. I wasn't feeling the mic so I went without it. Then when I spoke this voice just came out of nowhere. I was able to project my voice and articulate my words. It was very humbling, especially when the audience applauded. I wasn't expecting them to applaud. It was extremely humbling.

Lastly, do you have any advice for up-and-coming poets?

Don't be afraid to get up there. People are more supportive then you think them to be. Being up there is a liberating experience. Just get up there and see where it takes you.