A brief history of the Flagstaff Poetry Slam Team 2001-2024

 

December 2000, FlagSlam founded.
First FlagSlam Dynasty
The Founders' Era 

In 2001, 12th National Poetry Slam in Seattle, Wash.:
Grand Slam Champion: Josh Fleming
Nick Fox
Chris Lane
Christopher Fox Graham
Alternate: Eric “A-rek” Matthew Dye
Coach: Andy “War” Wall

After I graduated from Arizona State University and made the FlagSlam team, I moved to Flagstaff in June.

National Poetry Slam Team Finals

(1) Dallas

(2) Los Angeles

(3) Seattle

(4) New York, NYC-Urbana

56 teams

Individual Finals

(1) Mayda del Valle

(2) Beau Sia

(3) Shawn V.

(4) Morris Stegosaurus

(5) Angela Boyce

(6) Mama Blue

Second FlagSlam Dynasty

Kofonow Era

In 2002, 13th National Poetry Slam in Minneapolis, Minn.:
Grand Slam Champion: Suzy La Follette
Logan Phillips
Andy “War” Hall
Dom Flemons
Alternate: Jarrod Masseud Karimi (quit before the National Poetry Slam)
Coach and alternate: John Raymond Kofonow

I tried out for the FlagSlam team in 2002 but pulled the "1" and got clobbered. I had already been planning the Save the Male Tour with Josh Fleming, so that was my summer instead. 
 First tie at NPS: New York City-Urbana and Detroit

National Poetry Slam Team Finals

Tie: New York, NYC-Urbana and Detroit

(3) New York, Nuyorican Poets Cafe

(4) Seattle

54 teams

Individual Finals

(1) Sekou tha Misfit

(2) Corbet Dean, of Mesa

(3) Kamal Symonette-Dixon

(4) Xero Skidmore

(5) Rives

(6) Gina Loring

(7) Shane Koyczan

(8) Joel Chmara

In 2003, 14th National Poetry Slam in Chicago, Ill.:
Grand Slam Champion: Suzy La Follette
Logan Phillips
Cass Hodges
Dom Flemons
Alternate: Julie Hudgens (quit before the National Poetry Slam)
Coach and alternate: John Raymond Kofonow

I was a volunteer bout manager at NPS in 2003.

National Poetry Slam Team Finals

(1) Los Angeles

(2) New York, Nuyorican Poets Cafe

(3) Austin

(4) Oakland

Individual Finals

(1) Mighty Mike McGee

(2) Shane Koyczan

(3) Delisle

(4) Soul Evans

(5) Omari

(6) Suzy La Follette

(7) Corina Delgado

(8) Anis Mojgani

(9) Da Shade

(10) Jive Poetic

In 2004: 15th National Poetry Slam in St. Louis, Mo.:
Grand Slam Champion: Christopher Fox Graham
Eric Larson
Logan Phillips
Brent Heffron
Coaches: Mary Guaraldi, and John Raymond Kofonow

First time all four NPS finalist teams were from west of the Mississippi River (Hollywood's Da Poetry Lounge, Denver, Dallas and Berkeley). One of the worst organized NPSes due to the location of venues relative to each other and the venues in question. This was the first NORAZ Poets slam team.

In 2005: 16th National Poetry Slam in Albuquerque, N.M.:
Grand Slam Champion: Chris Lane
Logan Phillips
Christopher Fox Graham
Meghan Jones
Aaron Johnson
Coaches: Mary Guaraldi and John Raymond Kofonow

FlagSlam sent a crew of poets and supporters because Albuquerque was so close. I was also legal guardian for my ward, Sarrah Wile. One of the best organized NPSes. All venues were within walking distance of the Hotel Blue. The hotel manager lost his job for what he allowed us to do, but won the Spirit of the Slam Award.This was the secondNORAZ Poets slam team.

In 2006: 17th National Poetry Slam in Austin, Texas:
Aaron Johnson
Christopher Fox Graham (kicked off team before the National Poetry Slam)
Meghan Jones (quit before the National Poetry Slam)
Justin “Biskit” Powell
Alternate: A.J. Moyer (Joined team)
Coaches: Greg Nix (quit before the National Poetry Slam) and John Raymond Kofonow (quit before the National Poetry Slam)

This year was a train wreck. Those who know why, know why. I'm glad A.J., Aaron Johnson and Biskit had a good time at NPS, though. This was the third and final NORAZ Poets slam team.

Third FlagSlam Dynasty
Johnson-Phillips Era

In 2007: 18th National Poetry Slam in Austin, Texas:
Grand Slam Champion: Joseph Nieves
Aaron Johnson
Troy Thurman
J.J. Valentine

Last year Individual Poetry Slam Championships were held at NPS. They would be held at a separate event, the Individual World Poetry Slam starting in 2008. In January 2007, Christopher Lane and his NORAZ Poets nonprofit stopped doing any poetry slams in cut all financial support to FlagSlam. Slammaster Aaron Johnson left Flagstaff and with his departure, the leaderless slam lost its venue. By all accounts, after NPS 2007, the FlagSlam's continued existence was in doubt.

National Poetry Slam Team Finals

(1) Charlotte, SlamCharlotte

(2) Rhyme or Die (Killeen, Texas)

(3) New York, louderARTS

(4) Denver, Slam Nuba

(5) New York, Nuyorican Poets Cafe

76 teams

Individual Finals* 

(1) Danny Sherrard

(2) Christopher Michael

(3) Shannon Leigh

(4) Alvin Lau

Other finalists: Kealoha

Michael Guinn

6 is 9

Ed Mabrey

Oz

Robbie Q. Telfer

*This was the final year Individual Finals were held at the National Poetry Slam. A separate tournament, the Individual World Poetry Slam, or iWPS, would be held in the fall starting in 2008.

Fourth FlagSlam Dynasty

Rebirth Era (Cartier-Brown-O'Brien, notable for the Lost Boys and the "Flagstaff cadence")

In 2008: 19th National Poetry Slam in Madison, Wis.:
Grand Slam Champion: Frank O'Brien
Ryan Brown
John Cartier
Jessica Guadarrama
Alternate: Kami Henderson
Coach: Dana Sakowicz

National Poetry Slam Team Finals

(1) Charlotte, SlamCharlotte

(2) New York, louderARTS

(3) Austin

(4) Boston, Cantab

75 teams

Group Piece Finals

(1) NYC-Urbana

(2) Slam Nahuatl Richmond VA

(3) Killeen Texas

(4) Cleveland

(5) Atlanta

(6) Philadelphia

(7) Charlotte

(8) Honolulu

(9) Chicago-Green Mill

(10) Phoenix (Aaron Johnson, The Klute, KB Chesko, Christian Drake, Rowie Shebala)

(11) Loser Slam, Lincroft, N.J.

(12) Seattle

(13) Fort Worth

In 2009: 20th National Poetry Slam in West Palm Beach, FL.
Grand Slam Champion: Frank O'Brien
Ryan Brown
John Cartier
Andrew “Antranormus” Wanner
Jessica Guadarrama
Coach: Dana Sakowicz

National Poetry Slam Team Finals

(1) St. Paul, Soapboxing

(2) Albuquerque, ABQ Slams

(3) San Francisco

(4) New York, Nuyorican Poets Cafe

68 teams

Group Piece Finals

(1) Berkeley Poetry Slam

(2) Seattle Poetry Slam

(3)  Fort Worth Poetry Slam

(4) The Stage, West Palm Beach, Fla. 

(5) Art Amok, Atlanta

(6) California- Life Sentence Slam

(7) Loser Slam, New Jersey

(8) Toronto Poetry Slam

(9) Salt City Slam, Salt Lake City

(10) Slamarillo, Amarillo Texas

Fifth FlagSlam Dynasty

Brown Era

In 2010: 21st National Poetry Slam in St. Paul, Minn:
Grand Slam Champion: Ryan Brown
Brian Towne
Johnny P (quit before the National Poetry Slam)
RahMahMercy (quit before the National Poetry Slam)
Frank O'Brien (Joined team in Johnny P's slot)
Christopher Fox Graham (Joined team in RahMahMercy's slot after landing at the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport the day before NPS)
Alternate: Christopher Harbster (quit before the National Poetry Slam)

I was going to be a volunteer bout manager at NPS in 2010, but wound up on the team.

National Poetry Slam Team Finals

(1) St. Paul, Soapboxing

(2) New York, Nuyorican Poets Cafe

(3) Bull City Slam Team, Durham, North Carolina 

(4) Austin, Neo Soul

78 teams

Group Piece Finals

(1) Slam New Orleans

(2) Pomona

(3) Santa Cruz

(4) Oakland

(5) Vancouver

(6) Minneapolis, 

(7) Fort Worth

(8) Ocotillo, (Tucson, Arizona)

(9) Seattle

(10) Urbana

(11) Toronto

In 2011: 22nd National Poetry Slam in Cambridge and Boston, Mass.:
Grand Slam Champion: Shaun “nodalone” Srivastava
Maple Dewleaf
Taylor Marie “Tay” Kayonnie-Ehrlich
Christopher Harbster (quit before the National Poetry Slam)
Alternate: Tyler “Valence” Sirvinskas (Joined team)

I was a volunteer venue manager at NPS in 2011.

National Poetry Slam Team Finals

(1) Denver, Slam Nuba

(2) New York, Nuyorican Poets Cafe

(3) Providence Poetry Slam

(4) Columbus, Ohio Writing Wrongs

76 teams

Group Piece Finals

(1) ABQ Slams

(2) Austin Poetry Slam

(3) The Intangible Slam, New York City

(4) Dallas Poetry Slam

(5) Elevated! (San Diego)

(6) Houston Poetry Slam

(7) Knoxville Poetry Slam

(8) Austin Neo Soul

(9) Houston VIP

(10) Eclectic Truth, Baton Rouge, La. 

In 2012: 23rd National Poetry Slam in Charlotte, N.C.:
Grand Slam Champion: Christopher Fox Graham
Ryan Brown
Tara Pollock (tied)
Shaun “nodalone” Srivastava (tied)
Alternate: Jackson Morris (Joined team)

National Poetry Slam Team Finals

(1) Slam New Orleans

(2) Killeen, Texas

(3) New York, Nuyorican Poets Cafe

(4) Hollywood (Da Poetry Lounge)

72 teams

Group Piece Finals

(1) Austin Neo Soul

(2) Bull City Slam

(3) ABQ Slams

(4) Dallas Poetry Slam

(5) Piedmont Poetry Slam

(6) Burlington Slam Project

(7) Jersey City Poetry Slam

(8) Loser Slam

(9) Vancouver Poetry Slam

(10) Urbana

Sixth FlagSlam Dynasty

Quinonez Era

In 2013: 24th National Poetry Slam in Boston, Cambridge and Somerville, Mass.:
Grand Slam Champion: Christopher Fox Graham
Jackson Morris
Vincent Vega, aka Vincent Simone
Verbal Kensington (opted out to give Gabbi Jue her slot and compete for the Sedona National Poetry Slam Team)
Alternate: Austin Reeves (Joined team)
2nd alternate: Gabbi Jue (Joined team)

National Poetry Slam Team Finals

(1) Slam New Orleans

(2) Hollywood (Da Poetry Lounge)

(3) New York, Nuyorican Poets Cafe

(4) Elevated! San Diego

70 teams

Group Piece Finals

(tie 1) Austin Neo Soul / Intangible Slam

(tie 3) Java Monkey / Houston VIP

(5) Hear Here (Colorado Springs)

(6) Battle Born (Las Vegas)

(7) Seattle Poetry Slam (Seattle)

(8) Dallas Poetry Slam (Dallas)

(9) Salt City Slam (Salt Lake City)

(10) Sedona Poetry Slam (Sedona, Arizona)

In 2014: 25th National Poetry Slam in Oakland, Calif.:
Grand Slam Champion: Ryan Smalley
Josh Wiss
Josh Floyd
Christopher Fox Graham
Alternate: Claire Pearson (Joined team)
Coach: John Quinonez

A caravan headed from Flagstaff: The Yorktown, The Truth Bomber and The Majin Buu. On the first night in Oakland, The Yorktown was broken into and thieves stole computers and clothes from John Quinonez, Christopher Fox Graham and Ryan Smalley but we still had an awesome time.

National Poetry Slam Team Finals

(1) D.C. Beltway Poetry Slam

(2) New York, NYC-Urbana

(3) Slam New Orleans

(4) Denver, Slam Nuba

72 teams

Group Piece Finals

(1) Hear, Hear! Poetry Slam

(2) Austin Neo Soul

(3) WU Slam (St. Louis)

(4) Philly Pigeon

(5) Palo Alto

(6) Verbal Slap

(7) Lethal Poetry (Chicago)

(8) Denver Mercury

(9) Battle Born (Las Vegas)

(10) Boise Poetry Slam

In 2015: 26th National Poetry Slam in Oakland, Calif.:
Grand Slam Champion: Ryan Smalley
Christopher Fox Graham 
Gabbi Jue
Vincent Vega (Moved to Japan prior to NPS)
Alternate: Claire Pearson (Joined team)
Coach: John Quinonez

 Due to the untimely death of regular FlagSlam poet Lauren Delores Spencer in a car accident, the FlagSlam donated money to assist with funeral expenses. FlagSlam was late paying for registration and instead was placed on the waiting list, but never made it to the regular rotation. Team members went and volunteered and still had an awesome time. 

National Poetry Slam Team Finals

(1) The House Slam (Boston)

(2) Hawaii Slam

(3) Berkeley Slam

(4) Denver Mercury Poetry Slam

72 teams

Group Piece Finals

(1) Austin Poetry Slam

(2) Palo Alto

(3) Austin Neo Soul

(4) Slam Charlotte

(5) Atlanta Art Amok

(6) Rain City

(7) Lizard Lounge Poetry Slam

(8) Fort Worth

(9) Portland Poetry Slam

(10) Seattle Poetry Slam

Seventh FlagSlam Dynasty

Quorum of Five Era

In 2016: 27th National Poetry Slam in Decatur, Ga.
Grand Slam Champion: Ryan Smalley
Gabbi Jue
Claire Pearson
Christopher Fox Graham 
Alternate: Kim Possible, aka Kim Jarchow, (Joined team)
Coach: John Quinonez

John Quinonez officially stepped down as slammaster at the conclusion of the slam, handing the reins of slammastership to a Quorum of Five: Gabbi Jue, Rowie Shebala, Wil Williams, Claire Pearson and Kim Jarchow. To be clear, Wil Williams is, without a doubt, an absolute shitbag person, rudely condescending, most especially to other women, ignorantly and embarrassingly self-righteous and wholly unprepared to lead anything other than a solo long walk off a short pier.  I had very little to do with her but the exodus of veteran poets sick of her strong-arm tactics to dominate the event was deafening. She literally made other poets I love cry and drove freshman poets away and they called me about it. After running the slam in the ground and causing the five-women to break up as leaders, Facing a coup or complete dissolution of the slam, Wil Williams fled both the slam and Flagstaff and is reportedly holed up in Phoenix as a  "podcast critic," which is as pointless as that sounds and, unsurprisingly, "reviews" things because she made her judgmentalism professionally masturbatory. If she gets hit by a truck, most Flagstaff poets will feel bad for the truck and I know which women will be driving it. 

In any case, FlagSlam has seen struggles before, but Wil Williams was a clear, present and unique threat to its survival even more so than COVID a few years later.

 Kim Jarchow and Claire Pearson salvaged the slam and rebuilt it.

National Poetry Slam Team Finals

(1) Slammageddon Baltimore

(2) San Diego PoetrySLAM

(3) The House Slam (Boston)

(4) Austin NeoSoul

72 teams

Group Piece Finals

(1) ABQ Slams

(2) Dada Poetry Slam

(3) Burlington Ontario

(4) Northampton Poetry

(5) Freshwater Wordsmiths

(6) OM Center Poetry Slam

(7) Alchemy Slam

(8) Union Square Slam

(9) Nuyorican Poets Café

(tie 10) Hear Here / Houston Poetry Slam / Puro Slam

Eighth FlagSlam Dynasty

Jarchow-Pearson-Gates Era

In 2017: 28th National Poetry Slam in Denver. Colo.

Grand Slam Champion: Josh Wiss

Christopher Fox Graham

Kim Possible, aka Kim Jarchow

Claire Pearson

Alternate: Gabbi Jue, (Joined team)

Coach: Davey Latour, I guess?

This year, I stayed in the Denver suite of the Sedona team (Lydia Gates, Briana Grace Hammerstrom, Rob Chandler Gonzalez and Kenny Kreslake), along with Davey Latour. The suite was awesome and worth every penny.

National Poetry Slam Team Finals

(1) San Diego PoetrySLAM

(2) Brooklyn Poetry Slam

(3) The House Slam (Boston)

(4) Da Poetry Lounge Slam Team (Los Angeles)

84 teams

Group Piece Finals

(1) Dada Poetry Slam

(2) Slam Charlotte Poetry Slam

(3) PuroSlam

(4) Eclectic Truth

(5) Salt City Slam

(6) The Writers Den

(7) Boise Poetry Slam

(tie 8) Steel City Slam / ABQ Slams

(10) Toronto Poetry Slam

(11) Boston Poetry Slam

(12) Ktown Mic Drop Slam

(13) Rain City Slam

In 2018: 29th and final National Poetry Slam in Chicago, Ill.

Grand Slam Champion: Kim Possible, aka Kim Jarchow

Ryan Smalley

Christopher Fox Graham

Lydia Gates

Alternate: Tempest (Joined team)

Coach: None

This year, the Poetry Slam Inc., nonprofit collapse following a contentious SlamMaster's meeting that saw Executive Director Suzy Q, be fired the day before the meeting, then the entire board resign, and a caretaker board eventually form to settle accounts, host iWPS in the fall, then dissolve. It was a mess.

National Poetry Slam Team Finals

(1) Charlotte, SlamCharlotte

(2) Da Poetry Lounge Slam Team (Los Angeles)

(3) Slammageddon Baltimore

(4) Salt City Unified (Salt Lake City)

72 teams

Group Piece Finals

(1) Art Amok

(2) Austin Poetry Slam

(3) The Retort United (The Drunken Retort)

(4) The Fuze Poetry Slam

(5) Jersey City Slam

(6) Orlando Poetry Slam

(7) Boise Poetry Slam

(8) St. Louis Poetry Slam

(9) Nitty Gritty Slam

(10) For The Win

(11) Slam Free or Die

Ninth FlagSlam Dynasty

Gates-Tempest Era

From 2019 to 2024: No National Poetry Slam was held

Grand Slam Champion: Zane Schechterle

Gabbi Jue

Lydia Gates

Catheryn Dawn Tarazi

Levi Phillips

The COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020, ending the slam until the fall of 2021. Kim Jarchow moved to Colorado and Tempest Black took over co-hosting duties with Lydia Gates. 

The slam resumed in person in 2022 and was back up to full speed in 2023 and 2024, sending teams to regional competitions in Albuquerque, N.M., and Portland Oregon.

On the national level, some strong local and regional slams continued. Other slams, including some major ones with national presence and long histories faded or outright ended during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Arizona slams in Northern Arizona continued. 

In the Phoenix area, the Ghost Slam at the Rebel Lounge, hosted by Cylie Lawrence and Josh Naylor, began, reinvigorating the Phoenix area poetry scene. 

Linda Boser, LMB, in Prescott, began a new slam in that city, which hadn't one since the mid-2000s. 

In June 2023

Arizona poetry scenes were supportive of each other, but in many scene, the "old slam" and the "new slam" faced tensions with veteran poets somewhat dismissive of the younger poets starting poetry slams. In response to this tension and a Facebook meme of "Your poems are not good because ..." brought this tension to the forefront, to which I wrote a response poem "Your Poems Are Not Good Because ... [a response]" or "The Rise, Fall and Renaissance of Poetry Slam"

"Medulla Linguae" by Christopher Fox Graham

"Medulla Linguae" 

by Christopher Fox Graham

Da mihi stigmata

altius quam pellis

super ossa mea spina

super omnes vertebras

in omni lingua humana

Threicae eorum verbum pro "poetica"

ut nulla lingua amplius sentiat aliena;

ut quaelibet vox humana

potest loqui verbum in me

Sit arabica et hebraica

sit iuxta sine lapidibus

Sit Cantonese et Hindi characteribus

link manibus tenere Swahili et Hutu in tabernaculum unius noctis

Vasca et Zuluensis et tandem tactus labia Vietnamica

dum Navajo caput in humero Malaeiae reclinat

loquimur sex milia linguarum

sed dolorem tempusque patiar

nulla vox humana potest loqui ad me

quin filtrum

ad os

African syllabis fiat

spatium communicare cum articulationibus Europaeis;

Asian morphemes,

and Aboriginal pronunciations;

aciem et sculpes eos

sicut organicum barcode in Braille

readable vermibus qui aliquando convertunt me

ad religionem pulvis et cinis

ut semel crediderunt

ante hunc cultum carnis et sanguinis

nos de luto

ludere brevis characteres in pluvia

gustent saporem verborum nostrorum

deficiant poetica

et redde terram

sic terra potest sentire gravitatem verborum nostrorum

et ne obliviscaris nos

cum extincti sumus

sicut species ante nos

ultimum verbum scindendi

in codice morse

ad basis meae spina

ut i

in coxis Cum dormies

.--. --- . .-. -.--

sit dots et inliditque propagationem

per omnia ossa mea in virum comprehensionis

si vocem perdam

Non possum etiam dicere verbum

percussoque digitos meos;

terebat tympanum

aut mutantur ictum ictum meae pulsatio

loqui cum sanguine

imaginari

sex milia linguarum

ludens spina mea

in 33-part Concordia

concentus me

cum melodiam quod sonat

medulla spinalis meum

resonans in cuniculo et prolixius tendebatur

amplificandae compositionis musicam

omnia ut basis mea cerebri

ubi detonates

et resonat in medio cranii

ricocheting

sex milia noua

ad idem verbum

per voces sex billion cantores

in sex trillion cogitationes

donec capere non possum amplius chao

et cantus eorum explodit a labiis meis

offerens mundo

momento synchronised intellectus

unius carmen

unius vocis

unius viri

unius instant

ante mundum blinks

perdidit focus

et audit resonare

tardius deficiet

sed recordatus est

sonus

poeticae nostrae

"Wika ng Gulugod" by Christopher Fox Graham

"Wika ng Gulugod"

by Christopher Fox Graham

bigyan mo ako ng tattoo

mas malalim pa sa balat

sa buto ng aking gulugod

papunta sa ibabaw ng bawat vertebrae

sa bawat wika ng tao

tattoo ang kanilang salita para sa 

"tula"

upang walang wikang makadama ng banyaga;

upang ang bawat tinig ng tao

makapagsalita ng salita sa akin

hayaan ang Arabe at Hebreo

magkatabi sa upuan na hindi binabato

hayaan ang mga character na Cantonese at Hindi

mag link ng mga kamay upang hawakan ang Swahili at Hutu sa isang hammock

hayaan mo na lang si Basque at Zulu sa wakas na makahawak ng lips Vietnamese

habang ang Navajo ay nakasandal ang ulo nito sa balikat ng Malay

anim na libong wika ang ating sinasalita

Pero tiisin ko ang sakit at panahon

kaya walang boses ng tao ang makapagsasalita sa akin

nang hindi nadarama

pababa sa buto

hayaan ang mga syllables ng Africa

ibahagi ang espasyo sa European articulations,

Mga morpema ng Asya,

at mga pagbigkas ng mga Aboriginal,

pumila sila at mag ukit

tulad ng isang organic barcode na nakasulat sa Braille

mababasa ng mga uod na balang araw ay mag convert ako pabalik

sa relihiyong alabok at abo

na minsan ay naniwala tayo

bago ang kultong ito ng laman at dugo

inilabas kami mula sa putik

upang gumanap ng maikling tauhan sa ulan

hayaan mo silang tikman ang lasa ng ating mga salita

hayaan mo silang ubusin ang tula

at ibalik sa lupa

para maramdaman ng lupa ang bigat ng ating mga salita

at huwag mo kaming kalimutan

kapag tayo ay naglaho

tulad ng species sa harap natin

mag ukit ng huling salita

sa morse code

sa paanan ng aking gulugod

para marinig ko ang ritmo ng salita

sa balakang ko pag natutulog ako

.--. --- . - .-. -.--

hayaan ang mga tuldok at dashes kumalat

sa buong lahat ng aking mga buto sa isang virus ng pag unawa

Kaya kung mawala ang boses ko

Nakakapagsalita pa rin ako ng isang salita

sa pagtapik sa aking mga daliri,

kumakabog ng drum

o binabago ang ritmo ng tibok ng puso ko

upang magsalita sa aking dugo

imagine mo na lang

anim na libong wika

naglalaro ng aking gulugod

sa 33-bahaging pagkakasundo

paggawa ng symphony sa akin

may himig na nagbabanyuhay

up ang spinal cord ko

palakas ng palakas ang pag alingawngaw sa lagusan

amplifying ang compounding musika

hanggang sa base ng utak ko

saan ito nagpapasabog

at resonates sa loob ng bungo ko

ricocheting

anim na libong bagong ekspresyon

para sa iisang salita

sa tinig ng anim na bilyong mang aawit

sa anim na trilyong kaisipan ko

hanggang sa hindi ko na kayang tumagal ng gulo

at sumasabog ang kanta nila sa aking mga labi

pag aalay ng mundo

isang sandali ng synchronized na pag unawa

ng isang kanta

ng isang tinig

ng isang tao

para sa isang iglap

bago pa man dumilat ang mundo

nawawalan ng focus

at nakikinig sa echo

unti unti nang nalalabo

pero naaalala 

ang tunog 

ng ating mga tula

"মেরুদণ্ডের ভাষা" By Christopher Fox Graham

Photo courtesy of Sheikh Mehedi Morshed

"মেরুদণ্ডের ভাষা" 

By Christopher Fox Graham

আমাকে একটি ট্যাটু দাও
ত্বকের চেয়েও গভীর
আমার মেরুদণ্ডের হাড়ের উপর
প্রতিটি কশেরুকার পৃষ্ঠে
প্রতিটি মানুষের ভাষায়
ট্যাটু তাদের শব্দের জন্য 
'কবিতা'
যাতে কোনো ভাষাই আর বিদেশী মনে না হয়;
যাতে প্রতিটি মানুষের কণ্ঠস্বর
আমার মধ্যে একটি শব্দ বলতে পারে

আরবি এবং হিব্রু
পাথর নিক্ষেপ না করে পাশাপাশি বসুন
ক্যান্টোনিজ এবং হিন্দি অক্ষরগুলি ছেড়ে দিন
সোয়াহিলি এবং হুতুকে হ্যামকে ধরে রাখতে হাত সংযুক্ত করুন
বাস্ক এবং জুলুকে অবশেষে ঠোঁট স্পর্শ করতে দিন ভিয়েতনামী
যখন নাভাজো মালয়ের কাঁধে মাথা রাখে

আমরা ছয় হাজার ভাষায় কথা বলি
কিন্তু আমি ব্যথা এবং সময় সহ্য করব
সুতরাং কোনও মানুষের কণ্ঠ আমার সাথে কথা বলতে পারে না
অনুভব না করে
হাড়ের নীচে

আফ্রিকান অক্ষরগুলি লিখুন
ইউরোপীয় উচ্চারণের সাথে স্থান ভাগ করুন,
এশিয়ান মর্ফিম,
এবং আদিবাসী উচ্চারণ,

তাদের সারিবদ্ধ করুন এবং তাদের খোদাই করুন
যেমন ব্রেইলে লেখা একটি জৈব বারকোড
কৃমি দ্বারা পাঠযোগ্য যা একদিন আমাকে আবার রূপান্তরিত করবে
ধুলো ও ছাইয়ের ধর্ম
যা আমরা একসময় বিশ্বাস করেছিলাম
মাংস এবং রক্তের এই সম্প্রদায়ের আগে
কাদামাটি থেকে আমাদের বের করে এনেছি
বৃষ্টিতে সংক্ষিপ্ত চরিত্রে অভিনয় করা

তাদেরকে আমাদের শব্দের স্বাদ নিতে দিন
তাদের কবিতা খেতে দিন
এবং এটি মাটিতে ফিরিয়ে দিন
যাতে পৃথিবী আমাদের কথার ওজন অনুভব করতে পারে
এবং আমাদের ভুলে যেও না
যখন আমরা নিজেদের বিলুপ্ত করি
যেমন আমাদের সামনের প্রজাতি

শেষ কথাটি লিখুন
মোর্স কোডে
আমার মেরুদণ্ডের গোড়ায়
যাতে আমি শব্দের ছন্দ শুনতে পারি
আমি যখন ঘুমাই তখন আমার পোঁদে
.--. --- . - .-. -.--

বিন্দু এবং দাগ ছড়িয়ে দিন
বোঝার ভাইরাসে আমার সমস্ত হাড় জুড়ে
সুতরাং আমি যদি আমার কণ্ঠস্বর হারিয়ে ফেলি
আমি এখনও একটি শব্দ বলতে পারি
আমার আঙ্গুলগুলি ট্যাপ করে,
একটি ড্রাম বাজানো
অথবা আমার হৃদস্পন্দনের ছন্দ পরিবর্তন করা
আমার রক্ত দিয়ে কথা বলা

কল্পনা করুন

ছয় হাজার ভাষা
আমার মেরুদণ্ড খেলছে
৩৩-পর্বের সম্প্রীতিতে
আমার একটি সিম্ফনি তৈরি করা
একটি সুর যা প্রতিধ্বনিত হয়
আমার মেরুদণ্ডের উপরে
সুড়ঙ্গে আরও জোরে এবং জোরে প্রতিধ্বনিত হচ্ছে
যৌগিক সঙ্গীতকে প্রসারিত করা
আমার মস্তিষ্কের গোড়ায় সমস্ত পথ
যেখানে এটি বিস্ফোরিত হয়

এবং আমার মাথার খুলির ভিতরে প্রতিধ্বনিত হয়

ছয় হাজার নতুন অভিব্যক্তি

একই শব্দের জন্য
ছয় বিলিয়ন গায়কের কণ্ঠে
আমার ছয় ট্রিলিয়ন চিন্তার মধ্যে
যতক্ষণ না আমি আর বিশৃঙ্খলা সহ্য করতে পারি না
এবং তাদের গান আমার ঠোঁট থেকে বিস্ফোরিত হয়

বিশ্বকে অফার করা
সিঙ্ক্রোনাইজড বোঝার একটি মুহূর্ত
একটি গান
এক কন্ঠ
একজন মানুষ
এক মুহূর্তের জন্য
পৃথিবী চোখের পলক ফেলার আগে
ফোকাস হারায়
এবং প্রতিধ্বনি শোনে
ধীরে ধীরে ম্লান হয়ে যায়
কিন্তু মনে আছে 
আওয়াজ 

আমাদের কবিতা

"Merudander Bhasha"

By Christopher Fox Graham

amake ekti tattoo dao
toker cheyeo gabhir
amar merudander hader upper
protiti kasherukar prishthe
protiti manusher vashay
tattoo tader sobder jonno
'kabita'
jate kono vasha ar bideshi mane na hoy;
jate protiti manusher kanthaswar
amar modhye ekti shobdo bolte pare

arbi ebong hebrew
pathar nikshep na kare pashapashi basun
cantonese ebong hindi okkhorguli chede din
swahili ebong hutuke hamke dhore rakhte hat sanyukt karun
bask ebong juluke abosheshe thont sparsh karte din vietnami
jakhan navajo malayer kandhe matha rakhe

amra chhay hajar bhashay katha boli
kintu ami byatha ebong somoy sahya karab
sutaran kono manusher kontho amar sathe katha bolte pare na
anubhav na kare
hader niche

african okkhorguli likhun
europe uccharoner sathe sthan bhaag karun,
asian murphim,
ebong adivasi uccharon,

tader sariboddho karun ebong tader khodai karun
yeman brailey lekha ekti jaib barcode
krimi dwara pathyogya ya ekdin amake abar rupantarit karbe
dhulo o chair dharm
ya amra examoy biswas korechilam
mans ebong rokter ei sampradayer aage
kadamati theke amader ber kare enechi
brishtite sankhipto charitre abhinay kara

taderke amader sobder swad nite din
tader kobita khete din
ebong eti matite fire din
jate prithibi amader kathar ojon anubhav karate pare
ebong amader bhule jeo na
jakhan amra nijeder bilupto kori
yeman amader samner prajati

sesh kathati likhun
morse code
amar merudander goday
jate ami sobder chhondo shunte pari
ami jakhan ghumai takhan amar ponde
.--. --- . - .-. -.--
bindu ebong daag chadi din
bojhar viruse amar samast had jude
sutaran ami yadi amar kanthaswar hariye feli
ami ekhono ekti shobdo balte pari
amar angulguli tap kare,
ekti drum bajano
athaba amar hridaspandaner chhondo poriborton kora
amar rakta diye katha bala

kalpana karun

chhay hajar bhasha
amar merudanda khelche
e-porber sampritite
amar ekti symphony tairi kara
ekti sur ya pratidhwanito hoy
amar merudander upare
sudange aaro jore ebong jore pratidhwanito hachchhe
yogic sangitke prasarit kara
amar mostishker goday samast path
jekhane at bisforito hoy
ebong amar mathar khulir bhitare pratidhwanito hoy
chhay hajar natun abhibyakti
eki sobder jonno
chhoy billion gayker kanthe
amar chay trillion chintar modhye
yatakshan na ami ar bishrinkhala sahya karate pari na
ebong tader gaan amar thot theke bisforito hoy

biswake offer kara
synchronized bojhar ekti muhurt
ekti gaan
ek kantha
ekjon manush
ek muhurter jonno

prithibi chokher palak feller aage
focus haray
ebong pratidhwani shone
dhire dhire mlan hoye yay

kintu mone ache
awaz
amader kabita

"Мова Хребта" by Christopher Fox Graham

Потьомкінські сходи в Одесі, Україна

"Мова Хребта" 

by Christopher Fox Graham

Зробіть мені татуювання

глибше, ніж шкіра

на кістках мого хребта

на поверхню кожного хребця

на кожній людській мові

татуювання свого слова для 

"Поезія"

щоб жодна мова більше не відчувала себе іноземною;

щоб кожен людський голос

може сказати слово в мені

нехай арабська та іврит

сидіти поруч, не кидаючи каміння,

нехай кантонські та хінді символи

зв'язати руки, щоб тримати суахілі і хуту в гамаку

нехай баски і зулу нарешті торкнуться губ в'єтнамців

в той час як Навахо спирається головою на плече малайця

Ми говоримо шістьма тисячами мов

Але я перетерплю біль і час

Отже, жоден людський голос не може говорити зі мною

не відчуваючись

аж до кісток,

нехай африканські склади

розділити простір з європейськими артикуляціями,

азіатські морфеми,

і вимова аборигенів,

Вирівняйте їх і вигравіруйте

як органічний штрих-код, написаний шрифтом Брайля

читається хробаками, які одного разу навернуть мене назад

до релігії пилу і попелу

в що ми колись вірили

До цього культ плоті і крові

вивели нас з глини

грати коротких персонажів під дощем

Нехай вони відчують смак наших слів

Нехай споживають поезію

і віддати його назад в грунт

Так земля може відчути вагу наших слів

І не забувайте про нас

коли ми вимираємо самі

як види до нас

Вирізати останнє слово

азбукою Морзе

біля основи мого хребта

щоб я міг почути ритм слова

в стегнах, коли я сплю

.--. --- . - .-. -.--

Нехай крапки і тире розтікаються,

по всіх моїх кістках у вірусі розуміння

Отже, якщо я втрачу голос

Я все ще можу сказати слово

постукуючи пальцями,

стукання барабана,

або зміна ритму серцебиття

говорити моєю кров'ю

уявляти

шість тисяч мов

Гра в хребет

У 33-частинній гармонії

Створення симфонії про мене

з мелодією, яка відбивається

вгору по спинному мозку

все голосніше і голосніше лунає в тунелі

посилення складної музики

аж до основи мого мозку

де детонує

і резонує всередині мого черепа

рикошетинг

шість тисяч нових виразів

за одне і те ж слово

з голосами шести мільярдів співаків

в мої шість трильйонів думок

поки я більше не зможу прийняти хаос

І їхня пісня вибухає з моїх вуст

Пропонуючи світові

Момент синхронного розуміння

однієї пісні

в один голос

однієї людини

на одну мить

Перш ніж світ блимне

втрачає фокус,

і слухає відлуння

повільно згасають,

але пам'ятає 

Звук 

нашої поезії

"Mova Khrebta"

by Christopher Fox Graham

zrobit meni tatuyuvannya

gliebsche, nizh schkira

nah kistkach mogo khrebta

nah poverkhnyu kozhnogo khrebtsya

nah kozhniy ludski movy

tatuyuvannya svogo slova dlia

"poesia"

schob zodna mova bilse ne vidcuvala sebe inosemic;

schob kozhen ludski golos

mozhe skazati slovo vie meni

nechai arabic tha ivrit

siditi poruch, ne kidayuchi kaminnya,

nechai cantonese tha khindi symbol

zv'yazati ruki, schob trimati suakhili i khutu vie gamaku

nechai baski i zoulou naresti torknutsya goob vie'ethnamtsiv

vie toy chas iak navajo spirayetsya golovoyu nah plece malaytsia

mee govorimo shistma tisyachami mov

ale yo pereterplu biel i chas

otze, zhoden ludski golos ne mozhe govoriti zee mnoyu

ne vidcuvaiucis

age do kistok,

nechai africanism skladi

rozdiliti prostyre z evropeysky articulation,

asiaticus morphemi,

i vimova aborigeniv,

virivnaite ikh i vigraviruite

iak organic strich-code, napisany shriftom brile

chitayetsa khrobakami, yaki odnogo razo navernut mene nazad

do religia pilou i popelo

vie shcho mee kolis virili

do tsiogo kult ploti i krovi

vivelli nas z glini

grati korotkikh personage peed doshchem

nechai voni vidchuyut smak nashikh sliv

nechai spozhivayut poesiu

i viddati yogo nazad vie grunt

tak zemlya mozhe vidchuti vago nashikh sliv

i ne zabuvaite pro nas

colli mee vimirayemo sami

iak vidi do nas

virisati ostanne slovo

azbukoiu morse

bilya osnovi mogo khrebta

schob yo mig pochuti rhythm slova

vie stegnach, colli yo splyu

.--. --- . - .-. -.--

nechai krapki i tire roztikayutsya,

po vsikh moich kistkach ou virus rozuminnya

otze, yakshcho yo vtrachu golos

yo vse shche mozhu skazati slovo

postucuyuchi paltsyami,

stucande barabana,

abo zmina ritmu sertsebittya

govoriti moyeyu krov'yu

uyavlyati

shist tisiach mov

gra vie khrebet

ou 33-chastinny garmonia

stvorennya symphony pro mene

z melodieu, yaka vidbivayetsya

vgoru po spinnomo mozku

vse golosnisheh i golosnisheh lunaie vie tuneli

posilenia skladnoy music

age do osnovi mogo mozku

day detonue

i rezonouey vseredini mogo cherepa

ricoscheting

shist tisiach novikh viraziv

za audney i te zh slovo

z golosami sesti millardiv spivakiv

vie moi shist trilloniv dumok

pokey yo bilse ne zmozu priynaty khaos

i ikhnia pisnya vibukhayeh z moich voust

proponuuch svitovy

moment synchronic rozuminnya

odniei pisney

vie odin golos

odniei ludiny

nah odnu mit

persh nizh sveat blimne

vtrachaye focus,

i slukhayeh vidlunnya

povilno zgasayut,

ale pam'yataye

zvuk

nashoi poesia

"Ngôn Ngữ Cột Sống" by Christopher Fox Graham

Mặt trời chiếu lên ruộng bậc thang của những cánh đồng lúa ở phía tây bắc Việt Nam.

"Ngôn Ngữ Cột Sống" 

by Christopher Fox Graham

cho tôi một hình xăm

sâu hơn da

trên xương cột sống của tôi

lên bề mặt của mọi đốt sống

trong mỗi ngôn ngữ của con người

Hình xăm từ của họ cho 

"Thơ"

để không có ngôn ngữ nào cảm thấy xa lạ nữa;

để mỗi tiếng nói của con người

có thể nói một lời trong tôi

hãy để tiếng Ả Rập và tiếng Do Thái

Ngồi cạnh nhau mà không ném đá

cho phép các ký tự tiếng Quảng Đông và tiếng Hindi

chắp tay ôm Swahili và Hutu trên võng

để tiếng Basque và Zulu cuối cùng chạm môi người Việt

trong khi Navajo tựa đầu vào vai người Mã Lai

Chúng ta nói sáu ngàn tiếng lạ

Nhưng tôi sẽ chịu đựng nỗi đau và thời gian

Vì vậy, không có giọng nói của con người có thể nói chuyện với tôi

mà không được cảm nhận

xuống xương

hãy để âm tiết châu Phi

chia sẻ không gian với các khớp nối châu Âu,

Hình thái châu Á,

và cách phát âm của thổ dân,

xếp chúng lại và khắc chúng

như mã vạch hữu cơ được viết bằng chữ nổi Braille

Có thể đọc được bởi những con sâu mà một ngày nào đó sẽ chuyển đổi tôi trở lại

đến tôn giáo của bụi và tro

mà chúng tôi đã từng tin tưởng

trước sự sùng bái máu thịt này

đưa chúng tôi ra khỏi đất sét

để đóng các nhân vật ngắn trong mưa

Hãy để họ nếm thử hương vị của lời nói của chúng tôi

Hãy để họ tiêu thụ thơ

và đưa nó trở lại đất

để trái đất có thể cảm nhận được sức nặng của lời nói của chúng ta

và đừng quên chúng tôi

Khi chúng ta tuyệt chủng chính mình

Giống như các loài trước chúng ta

Khắc từ cuối cùng

Trong mã Morse

ở đáy cột sống của tôi

để tôi có thể nghe thấy nhịp điệu của từ

ở hông khi tôi ngủ

.--. --- . - .-. -.--

Hãy để các dấu chấm và dấu gạch ngang lan rộng

trên tất cả các xương của tôi trong một virus của sự hiểu biết

Vì vậy, nếu tôi bị mất giọng

Tôi vẫn có thể nói một từ

bằng cách gõ ngón tay của tôi,

đập trống

hoặc thay đổi nhịp tim của tôi

để nói chuyện với máu của tôi

tưởng tượng

sáu ngàn lưỡi

Chơi cột sống của tôi

trong 33 phần hài hòa

Làm một bản giao hưởng của tôi

với giai điệu vang dội

lên tủy sống của tôi

vang vọng ngày càng to trong đường hầm

khuếch đại âm nhạc ghép

tất cả các cách để nền tảng của bộ não của tôi

nơi nó phát nổ

và cộng hưởng bên trong hộp sọ của tôi

Ricocheting

Sáu ngàn biểu thức mới

cho cùng một từ

với giọng hát của sáu tỷ ca sĩ

vào sáu nghìn tỷ suy nghĩ của tôi

cho đến khi tôi không còn hỗn loạn nữa

Và bài hát của họ bùng nổ từ đôi môi của tôi

Cung cấp cho thế giới

Một khoảnh khắc của sự hiểu biết đồng bộ

của một bài hát

của một giọng nói

của một người đàn ông

trong một khoảnh khắc

Trước khi thế giới chớp mắt

mất tập trung

và lắng nghe tiếng vang

từ từ biến mất

Nhưng nhớ 

Âm thanh 

của thơ chúng ta

Sông Ngô Đồng và cánh đồng lúa ở Ninh Bình

"שפת עמוד השדרה" By Christopher Fox Graham

הרובע היהודי בירושלים

"שפת עמוד השדרה"

By Christopher Fox Graham

תן לי קעקוע

עמוק יותר מהעור

על עצמות עמוד השדרה שלי

על פני כל חוליה

בכל לשון אדם

קעקוע המילה שלהם עבור "שירה"

כדי שאף שפה לא תרגיש זרה יותר;

כך שכל קול אנושי

יכול לדבר בי מילה

לט ערבית ועברית

לשבת זה לצד זה בלי לזרוק אבנים

תן תווים קנטונזיים והינדיים

קשרו ידיים כדי להחזיק סווהילית והוטו בערסל

תנו לבסקית ולזולו לגעת סוף סוף בשפתיים וייטנאמית

בעוד נאוואחו מניח את ראשו על כתפו של מאלאי

אנחנו מדברים ששת אלפים לשונות

אבל אני אסבול את הכאב ואת הזמן

אז שום קול אנושי לא יכול לדבר איתי

בלי להיות מורגש

עד העצם

תן להברות אפריקאיות

לחלוק מרחב עם ביטויים אירופיים,

מורפמות אסיאתיות,

והגייה אבוריג'ינית,

העמידו אותם בשורה וחרטו אותם

כמו ברקוד אורגני שכתוב בכתב ברייל

קריא על ידי התולעים שיום אחד ימירו אותי בחזרה

לדת העפר והאפר

שפעם האמנו בו

לפני פולחן בשר ודם זה

הוציא אותנו מהחימר

כדי לשחק דמויות קצרות בגשם

תנו להם לטעום את טעם המילים שלנו

תנו להם לצרוך שירה

ולהחזיר אותו לאדמה

כדי שכדור הארץ יוכל להרגיש את משקל המילים שלנו

ולא לשכוח אותנו

כשאנחנו נכחדים

כמו המינים שלפנינו

לגלף את המילה האחרונה

בקוד מורס

בבסיס עמוד השדרה שלי

כדי שאוכל לשמוע את קצב המילה

בירכיים כשאני ישן

.--. --- . - .-. -.--

תן לנקודות ולמקפים להתפשט

על כל עצמותיי בווירוס של הבנה

אז אם אני מאבד את הקול שלי

אני עדיין יכול לומר מילה

על ידי הקשה על אצבעותיי,

דופק בתוף

או שינוי קצב פעימות הלב שלי

לדבר עם הדם שלי

דמיין

ששת אלפים לשונות

משחק בעמוד השדרה שלי

בהרמוניה של 33 חלקים

לעשות סימפוניה ממני

עם מנגינה שמהדהדת

במעלה חוט השדרה שלי

מהדהדים חזק יותר ויותר במנהרה

הגברת המוזיקה המורכבת

כל הדרך לבסיס המוח שלי

היכן הוא מתפוצץ

ומהדהד בתוך הגולגולת שלי

ריקושט

ששת אלפים ביטויים חדשים

עבור אותה מילה

בקולותיהם של שישה מיליארד זמרים

לתוך ששת טריליון המחשבות שלי

עד שלא אוכל לשאת יותר תוהו ובוהו

והשיר שלהם מתפוצץ לי מהשפתיים

להציע לעולם

רגע של הבנה מסונכרנת

של שיר אחד

של קול אחד

של איש אחד

לרגע אחד

לפני שהעולם ממצמץ

מאבד ריכוז

ומקשיב להד

לאט לאט להתפוגג

אבל זוכר 

הצליל 

של השירה שלנו

tan lea kaqua

amuk extra moor

al asted amud hashdra shley

al fnea kul hulia

bal leson huamn

kaqua hamila shlahm hbor "shira"

order shaf shfe lo targish zra extra;

sic sense kol human

yakul ladber bi mila

let arabic hawarit

leshavah ze lizd ze bli lazrok avanim

tan twaim cantonseim windae

kashro game order lahazik suweilit vehoto barsel

tnu lebskit valzolo lagat suf suf bashaftaim vietnamese

baud navakho maniah at rasho al ketfu sal malay

anahno medverian sest alpim lashonot

ebl ani asbol at hachav wath hazman

az shum kol human lo yakul ladber ethi

bli geta moregas

ad hatzem

tan lahbras epricare

lahlock merkhav am bitoghy europians,

morphemose esiathic,

waghaia eborig'yanit,

hamido otham four vecharto otham

kamo barkod organic shechtov bechtev braille

cria al yedi hatolaim shiva ekhad yemiro shoot bahazra

ledat haper wahafer

shapaim hamno bo

lipni films bsar vedem ze

hutzia othno mahahimar

order leshak daming ktzarot bagsham

tnu lahm latkum at taste hamilim shalno

tnu lahm latzrok shira

welhahzir otho ladma

order shakhdor haarets mesian lahargish at miskel hamilim shalno

vala lochus othno

casanaheno nachadim

kamo haminim shalpanino

lagelf at hamila achrona

bacoud morse

babasis amud hashdra shley

order seokel leshmua at kacav hamila

birchaim kashani yeshen

.--. --- . - .-. -.--

tan lancudut wellmacpim lahtefsht

al kul emotei beviros sal havana

az im ani maabed at vocal shley

ani adin yakul lomer mila

al yedi hakasha al atsevaathi,

dupek betof

oh change kacav postees helb shley

ladber am hadam shley

dmein

sest alpim lashonot

mishak buamud hashdra shley

bharmony sal 33 halkim

unses symphoni mamni

am meneghina shemadahdat

bemala cord hashdra shley

mehadim hazak extra voter bemnara

hagavart hemusica anciduenta

kul hedrach lebsis afet shley

hichan hoa matfotz

wmahdad batuk golgolat shley

ricost

sest alpim bitoghy hadashim

hbor otha mila

bakulothiam sal shisha milliard zomerians

latuk sest trillion instality shley

ad shla soul lachat extra toho veboho

washir shlahm matfotz lea mahspations

lacy lawlam

raga sal havana mesvnkern

sal shir ekhad

sal kol ekhad

sal ish ekhad

larga ekhad

lipni sholem mematz

maabed richose

wamksiv lahad

lat lat latfogg

ebl zuchar

hatzlil

sal hashira shalno

"Lenguaje Espinal" by Christopher Fox Graham

Madrid

"Lenguaje Espinal" 

by Christopher Fox Graham

Dame un tatuaje

más profundo que la piel

en los huesos de mi columna vertebral

en la superficie de cada vértebra

en cada lengua humana

tatuar su palabra para "poesía"

para que ningún idioma se sienta más extraño;

para que cada voz humana

puede decir una palabra en mí

que el árabe y el hebreo

Siéntate uno al lado del otro sin tirar piedras

dejar que los caracteres cantoneses e hindi

unir las manos para sostener swahili y hutu en una hamaca

dejar que vascos y zulúes finalmente toquen los labios vietnamitas

mientras que Navajo descansa su cabeza en el hombro de Malay

Hablamos seis mil lenguas

Pero soportaré el dolor y el tiempo

Así que ninguna voz humana puede hablarme

sin ser sentido

hasta el hueso

dejar sílabas africanas

compartir espacio con articulaciones europeas,

Morfemas asiáticos,

y pronunciaciones aborígenes,

Alinearlos y grabarlos

como un código de barras orgánico escrito en Braille

legible por los gusanos que un día me convertirán de nuevo

a la religión del polvo y la ceniza

en el que creímos una vez

Antes de este culto de carne y hueso

nos sacó de la arcilla

para interpretar personajes breves bajo la lluvia

Que prueben el sabor de nuestras palabras

Que consuman poesía

y devolverlo al suelo

para que la tierra pueda sentir el peso de nuestras palabras

y no nos olvides

Cuando nos extinguimos

como las especies anteriores a nosotros

Tallar la última palabra

En código Morse

en la base de mi columna vertebral

para que pueda escuchar el ritmo de la palabra

en mis caderas cuando duermo

.--. --- . - .-. -.--

Deja que los puntos y los guiones se extiendan

a través de todos mis huesos en un virus de comprensión

Así que si pierdo mi voz

Todavía puedo decir una palabra

tocando mis dedos,

golpeando un tambor

o cambiar el ritmo de los latidos de mi corazón

para hablar con mi sangre

imaginar

Seis mil lenguas

tocando mi columna vertebral

en armonía de 33 partes

Haciendo una sinfonía de mí

con una melodía que reverbera

subir mi médula espinal

Resonando cada vez más fuerte en el túnel

Amplificar la música compuesta

todo el camino hasta la base de mi cerebro

donde detona

y resuena dentro de mi cráneo

rebotando

Seis mil nuevas expresiones

para la misma palabra

con las voces de seis mil millones de cantantes

en mis seis billones de pensamientos

hasta que no pueda soportar más caos

y su canción explota de mis labios

Ofreciendo el mundo

Un momento de comprensión sincronizada

de una canción

de una sola voz

de un hombre

por un instante

Antes de que el mundo parpadee

pierde el enfoque

y escucha el eco

desvanecerse lentamente

pero recuerda 

el sonido 

de nuestra poesía

"Νωτιαία Γλώσσα" by Chrisopher Fox Graham

Η 24η Ιουλίου 1974 σηματοδότησε την αποκατάσταση της δημοκρατίας στην Ελλάδα μετά από επτά χρόνια στρατιωτικής δικτατορίας. Το πραξικόπημα του 1967 είχε ως αποτέλεσμα μια μακρά περίοδο φόβου, διώξεων, καταπάτησης προσωπικών και πολιτικών δικαιωμάτων, δυσπιστίας και αστάθειας. Κάθε χρόνο, η ημέρα της Αποκατάστασης της Δημοκρατίας γιορτάζεται με δεξίωση που πραγματοποιείται στο Προεδρικό Μέγαρο στην Αθήνα.

"Νωτιαία Γλώσσα"

by Chrisopher Fox Graham

δώσε μου ένα τατουάζ

βαθύτερο από το δέρμα

στα οστά της σπονδυλικής μου στήλης

στην επιφάνεια κάθε σπονδύλου

σε κάθε ανθρώπινη γλώσσα

τατουάζ λέξη τους για 

"Ποίηση"

έτσι ώστε καμία γλώσσα να μην αισθάνεται ξένη πια.

έτσι ώστε κάθε ανθρώπινη φωνή

μπορεί να πει μια λέξη μέσα μου

ας Αραβικά και Εβραϊκά

Καθίστε δίπλα-δίπλα χωρίς να πετάξετε πέτρες

αφήστε τους καντονέζικους και χίντι χαρακτήρες

ενώνουν τα χέρια για να κρατήσουν τα σουαχίλι και τους χούτου σε μια αιώρα

αφήστε τους Βάσκους και τους Ζουλού να αγγίξουν τελικά τα χείλη του Βιετνάμ

ενώ ο Ναβάχο ακουμπά το κεφάλι του στον ώμο της Μαλαισίας

Μιλάμε έξι χιλιάδες γλώσσες

Αλλά θα υπομείνω τον πόνο και το χρόνο

Έτσι καμία ανθρώπινη φωνή δεν μπορεί να μου μιλήσει

χωρίς να γίνεται αισθητός

μέχρι το κόκκαλο

αφήστε τις αφρικανικές συλλαβές

να μοιράζονται χώρο με τις ευρωπαϊκές αρθρώσεις,

Ασιατικά μορφήματα,

και προφορές των Αβορίγινων,

Ευθυγραμμίστε τα και χαράξτε τα

σαν οργανικός γραμμωτός κώδικας γραμμένος σε γραφή Braille

αναγνώσιμο από τα σκουλήκια που μια μέρα θα με μετατρέψουν πίσω

στη θρησκεία της σκόνης και της στάχτης

που πιστέψαμε κάποτε

Πριν από αυτή τη λατρεία της σάρκας και του αίματος

μας έβγαλε από πηλό

για να παίξετε σύντομους χαρακτήρες στη βροχή

Ας γευτούν τη γεύση των λέξεων μας

Αφήστε τους να καταναλώσουν ποίηση

και δώστε το πίσω στο έδαφος

Έτσι η γη μπορεί να αισθανθεί το βάρος των λόγων μας

και να μην μας ξεχνάμε

όταν εξαφανιζόμαστε

όπως τα είδη πριν από εμάς

Χαράξτε την τελευταία λέξη

Σε κώδικα Μορς

στη βάση της σπονδυλικής μου στήλης

για να ακούσω το ρυθμό της λέξης

στους γοφούς μου όταν κοιμάμαι

.--. --- . - .-. -.--

Αφήστε τις κουκκίδες και τις παύλες να εξαπλωθούν

σε όλα τα οστά μου σε έναν ιό κατανόησης

Έτσι, αν χάσω τη φωνή μου

Μπορώ ακόμα να πω μια λέξη

χτυπώντας τα δάχτυλά μου,

χτυπώντας ένα τύμπανο

ή αλλάζοντας το ρυθμό του καρδιακού παλμού μου

να μιλήσω με το αίμα μου

φαντάζομαι

έξι χιλιάδες γλώσσες

Παίζοντας τη σπονδυλική μου στήλη

σε αρμονία 33 μερών

Κάνοντας μια συμφωνία μου

με μια μελωδία που αντηχεί

μέχρι το νωτιαίο μυελό μου

αντηχώντας όλο και πιο δυνατά στη σήραγγα

ενίσχυση της σύνθετης μουσικής

μέχρι τη βάση του εγκεφάλου μου

όπου εκρήγνυται

και αντηχεί μέσα στο κρανίο μου

εξοστρακισμός

Έξι χιλιάδες νέες εκφράσεις

για την ίδια λέξη

με τις φωνές έξι δισεκατομμυρίων τραγουδιστών

στις έξι τρισεκατομμύρια σκέψεις μου

μέχρι να μπορέσω να μην αντέξω άλλο χάος

και το τραγούδι τους εκρήγνυται από τα χείλη μου

προσφέροντας τον κόσμο

Μια στιγμή συγχρονισμένης κατανόησης

ενός τραγουδιού

μιας φωνής

ενός ανθρώπου

για μια στιγμή

πριν ο κόσμος αναβοσβήνει

χάνει την εστίαση

και ακούει την ηχώ

σιγά-σιγά ξεθωριάζουν

αλλά θυμάται 

Ο ήχος 

της ποίησής μας

"Notiaia Glossa"

by Chrisopher Fox Graham

dose mia ein tattoos

bathyter apo to derma

stou osta ths spondylic mia steles

sten epiphania kathe spondylou

so kathe anthropine glossa

tattoos lexi these gia

"poesy"

etsi aste kamia glossa nha mhn esthanetai xeni pia.

etsi aste kathe anthropine phoni

mporei nha pei mia lexi mesha mia

as arabic kai evraika

kathiste dipla-dipla choris nha petaxete petres

afiste these cantonese kai kindi charachters

enonoun ta car gia nha kratisoun ta swachili kai these khutu so mia aiora

afiste these basques kai these zulu nha agixun telika ta cail the bietnam

uno aux navajo akoumpa to kefali the ston omo ths malaysias

milame exi kilos glosses

allow t ypomeino ton pain kai to chrono

etsi kamia anthropine phoni den mporei nha mia milisei

choris nha ginete aesthetus

mechri to kokkalo

afiste these african syllaves

nha moirazontai car me these europes arthroseis,

asiatic morphemes,

kai prophoration than aboriginal,

euthygrammine ta kai charaxte ta

shan organic grammotos codex gramenos so grafi Braille

anagnosimos apo ta skoulikia pou mia mera t me metatrepsun piso

sti threskeia ths skonis kai ths stachtis

pou pistepsame capote

prima apo ayti the latria ths sarkas kai the aematus

mas evgale apo pilo

gia nha paixete syntomous charachters sti broche

as geutoun the geusi than lexeon mas

afiste these nha katanalosoun poesy

kai doste to piso sto edafos

etsi iii gi mporei nha aisthanthei to baros than logon mas

kai nha mhn mas xechname

otan exaphane

opos ta eidh prima apo emas

charaxte then teleytaia lexi

so codice morse

sti bazi ths spondylic mia steles

gia nha akouso to rythm ths lexis

stous gofous mia otan kimamai

.--. --- . - .-. -.--

afiste these koukkides kai these paules nha expand

so all ta osta mia so enan io katanoisis

etsi, anne khaso the phoni mia

mporo akoma nha pau mia lexi

chtypontas ta dachtyla mia,

chtypontas ein tympanum

a allazontas to rythm the cardiac palmou mia

nha miliso me to aima mia

fantazomai

exi kilos glosses

paizontas the spondylic mia stele

so armonia 33 meron

canonds mia symphony mia

me mia melody pou antekhei

mechri to notiaio myelo mia

antichontas whole kai pio dynata sti siragga

enischysi ths synthetic mousikis

mechri the bazi the egkefalou mia

opou ekrignytai

kai antekhei mesha sto kranio mia

exostracism

exi kilos news expression

gia then idia lexi

me these fones exi disecatomuria tragoudia

sites exi trisecatommyria skepseis mia

mechri nha mporeso nha mhn antexo allo kaos

kai to tragoudi these ekrignytai apo ta cail mia

prosferontas ton kosmo

mia stigmi sygchronismenis katanoisis

enos tragoudiou

mias fonis

enos anthropou

gia mia stigmi

prima aux kosmos anavosvinei

can then estiasis

kai akouei then eco

siga-siga xethoriazoun

allow thimatai

aux echos

ths poesis mas

د "پښتو ژبې" by Christopher Fox Graham

د "پښتو ژبې"

by Christopher Fox Graham

ما ته یو ټټو راکړئ

د پوستکی څخه ژور

زما د پښو په سرونو کې

د هر چمن په سطحه

د هر انسان په ژبه

د دوی د کلمې لپاره ټایټ 

د "پښتو شعر"

د دې لپاره چې هیڅ ژبه نور بهرنی احساس ونه کړی؛

چې د هر انسان په زړه کې

په ما کې یو څه خبرې کولی شی

د عربی او عبرانیانو لپاره

پرته له دې چې د ډبرو سکرو سره څنګ په څنګ شئ

د کینټن او هندی کرکټرونو ته اجازه ورکړئ

په یوه هوټل کې د هاموک او سواحلو ساتلو لپاره لاسونه وصل کړئ

اجازه ورکړئ باسکی او زولو په پای کې د ویتنامی شونډو لمس کړی

کله چې ناوالنی خپل سر د مالا په اوږه باندې ارام کوی

موږ په ۶۰ ژبو خبرې کوو

خو د وخت او د دردونو په وخت کې

نو هیڅ انسان نشی کولی ما سره خبرې وکړی

بې احساسه

تر هډوکو پورې

د افریقی سیلیبلونو لپاره

د اروپایی اتحادیې سره د ځای شریکول ،

د اسیا مورفیمونه ،

او د انګریزانو خبرې،

د دوی سره یوځای شئ او دوی ته یې و انوئ

لکه څنګه چې په بریل کې لیکل شوی عضوی بارکوډ

د هغو چینجیو لخوا لوستل کیږی چې یوه ورځ به ما بیرته بدل کړی

د خاورې او خاورې د دین په اړه

چې موږ په یو وخت باور

د دې د وینې او وینې د وینې د

موږ له کوره ووته

په باران کې د لوبو لپاره د لنډ وخت لپاره

زموږ د کلی د ونو د ونو په سرونو

پریږده چې شاعری وکړی

او بیا یې په ځمکه کې واخلئ

د ځمکې د اسمان کولای شی زموږ د کلمو د وزن احساس

او موږ له پامه مه غورځوئ

کله چې موږ خپل ځان له مینځه یوسو

زموږ په وړاندې د ډولونو په څیر

وروستۍ کلمه را اخیستل

په مورس کوډ کې

زما د زلفو په سر کې

چې مې د زړه په غوږو کې د اغېز غږ شی

کله چې زه په بستر کې یم

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پرېږدئ چې ټکی او ډشونه پراخه شی

زما په زړه کې د هر چا د زړه په سترګو کې

که مې خپل غږ له لاسه ورکړ

زه لاهم کولی شم یوه کلمه ووایم

زما د ګوتو په وهلو سره ،

درم

یا زما د زړه د زړه د ریتم بدلول

زما د وینې سره خبرې کول

تصورول

شپږ زره ژبې

زما د نخاع سره لوبې کول

په 33 برخه هارمونی

په ما باندې یو هجوم جوړ کړئ

چې د زړه په سر یې راورنګیږی

زما د نخاعی نخاعی ته پورته کړئ

په تونل کې د لوړ او لوړ غږ غږ

د ترکیبی موسیقی د جوړولو لپاره

زما د مغزو د ټولو لارو ته

چیرې چې دا انفجار کوی

او زما د زړه په دننه کې د

ریکوچټ

۶۰ نوی لغتونه

د ورته کلمې لپاره

د شپږ میلیارده سندرغاړو غږونه

زما د شپږ ټریلیون فکرونو په اړه

تر هغه چې زه نور ګډوډی نشم کولی

او زما له شونډو څخه د هغوی اوازونه پورته کیږی

دنیا ته وړاندې کول

د تفاهم د نه شتون یوه لحظه

یوه سندره

په یوه اواز

یو سړی

د یوې شیبه لپاره

تا چې دنیا په تا باندې ولوېږی

تمرکز له لاسه ورکوی

او د اکو په اړه خبرې وکړئ

ورو ورو له منځه ځی

خو په یاد دی 

غږ 

زموږ د شعر په اړه