ISSUE #3 THE POETRY EDITION
HOW POETRY SOOTHES THE SOUL Poetry: Positive Stimulation for the Brain? THE ART OF FREESTYLE: MORE THAN JUST WORDS SPOTLIGHT ARTIST: THE QUEEN LIONESS InMind Magazine
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ISSUE THREE
Table of Contents Editor’s Note - 4 Poetry: Positive Stimulation for the Brain - 6 Poetry does more than just help express your creativity. It has some positive effects on our brains too.
The Art of Freestyle: More Than Just Words - 9
We are exploring a whole new world of poetry and we like to call it freestyle.
Spotlight Artist: The Queen Lioness - 13
We are shedding our spotlight on a talented spoken word artist who has a mission to make changes in the art world.
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Read the poem of our 2015 InMind Poetry Contest Winner in this issue.
Diary of a Foodie: Discovering the World One Bite at a Time - 18 Introducing our all-new feature in this issue. We are exploring the world of food.
Poetry Block - 20 Our featured poem.
How Poetry Soothes the Soul - 22 Poetry can heal our wounds and soothe our hearts but how?
ISSUE THREE
2015 InMind Poetry Contest Winner - 16
Table of Contents InMind Magazine
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Editor’s Note
W
elcome to InMind Magazine! The art and culture magazine focused on exploring what people define as art in their own minds and worlds. We wanted to do something a little different this time and focus on an area we think everyone can relate to. This is our special poetry edition of InMind Magazine! Poetry is one of the best ways to express yourself creatively and emotionally. In this issue, we will explore the amazing world of freestyle, shed our spotlight on a talented spoken word artist, share some beautiful poetry from our readers, and speak on an important topic of how poetry soothes the soul. We hope you enjoy this special issue and thank you all for your loving support of InMind Magazine!
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Meet Our Team
Tanisha Harrelson
Editor-in-Chief / Creative Director
Lauren Coffey Staff Writer
Tree Herndon
Nikee Bayunga
Assistant Editor-inChief
Digital Content Specialist/ Staff Writer
Emily Rose
Danielle Obimah Contributing Photographer
Staff Writer
Stacy McMillian Contributing Graphic Designer
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Poetry: Positive Stimulation for the Brain? By Tanisha Harrelson
M
ost people have been able to experience creating their own work of art when it comes to
writing poems. You could have been going through a very important and thrilling part in your life or you could have gone through a very tragic moment in which you store up your energy and emotions inside. Being able to release that built up energy and emotion can be a large burden lifted off your shoulders. Many have turned to the art of writing poetry to pour out their feelings and experiences all over their paper through their pen or pencil. An art form that can be motivated by such intense feelings and moments in our lives must have some type of affect on our brain. But what can of affect can we expect poetry to have on our minds?
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of our brain more than the area associated What is Poetry?
with reading. Another benefit of poetry is that
First, what is poetry? Poetry is literary work
it helps us do some serious self-reflecting on
in which there is special intensity that is put
ourselves. When you sit down to write a poem
into the expression of emotions and ideas by
and pour out your heart and soul onto a piece
the use of unique style and rhythm. Poems
of paper, do you not feel a sense of stress
from famous poets like Shakespeare or Maya
released from your mind? Poetry can help us
Angelou can always be expected to have some
to relax. Some research has found that poetry
type of intense emotions entwined in the words
stimulates the regions of our brain associated
and phrases that are used. Many other poets
with our resting state.
have created poems with the same intensity and when we read their poems, we cannot
A Positive Outlook
help but feel lost in what we are reading and
So, does poetry stimulate the brain in a positive
our feelings stirring up inside. This must create
way? Yes, we can have complete confidence
some type of creative and positive stimulation
that so far there are only positive things that
in our brains when we read poetry.
come from this amazing writing art form. We can rely on poems to help give us positive
Research and Study
vibes, stimulate our memories, and relax our
Researchers at the University of Exeter have
overactive minds and emotions. If you are ever
been performing studies on how the brain
feeling anxious, sad, happy, upset, you should
responds to poetry. The team has found that
consider taking up the art of writing poetry.
the brain responds the same way to poetry
The peace of mind that you will be able to
as it does to music in the regions of the brain
experience will leave you wanting more of this
that give us “shivers down the spine” when
addictive drug we call poetry.
we listen to music. The research team had study participants read one of their favorite passages of poetry and found that the regions of the brain associated with memory also has a reaction. This area of the brain was stimulated more than the “reading areas” in the brain. This meant that reading your favorite passage is a kind of recollection. Poetry gives us that “shivers down the spine” feeling just like music does and other positive vibes. It also stimulates the memory regions
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References: -Bergado, G. (2014). Science shows something surprising about what reading poetry does to your brain. Arts Mic. Retrieved from http://mic.com/articles/103490/why-we-should-all-bereading-more-poetry -Flowers, A. (2013). This is your brain. this is your brain on poetry. Your Universe Online. Retrieved from http://www. redorbit.com/news/science/1112971504/effects-of-poetry-onthe-brain-101013/ -Nauert PhD, R. (2013). Poetry: Music to the Mind. Psych Central. Retrieved on September 27, 2015, from http:// psychcentral.com/news/2013/10/10/poetry-music-to-themind/60555.html
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The Art of Freestyle: More Than Just Words By Tanisha Harrelson
H
ave you ever had the urge to rattle off words that play well together from the top of your head out loud to a silent
beat or rhythm that only you can hear? Or maybe that is just something you have only seen hip hop artists or a lyrical genius do in the media or on an underground mixtape. Most people would refer to this art form as freestyling. It’s a form of art that anyone can do and you do not even have to be a famous hip hop celebrity to do it. There so much more that freestyling has to offer but first it helps to know what it is and what is all involved in this unique form of art. Freestyling: The Basics Freestyle can be described as a style of rap that allows the individual to improvise the lyrics right on the spot. It can be used with instrumental music or without. It is a great way to play with words without having to follow any kind of rules or guidelines. Words can be used in all kinds of creative ways that you may not have realized until you start to freestyle from the top of your head right on the spot. Freestyle allows an artist to put their ideas together or put them on the right path of an idea without having to write
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Photo Credit: Danielle Obimah
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is to rap about the environment around you or
“You’re thinking out loud and adding rhyme and rhythm….You dream with your words. Freestyling is letting go.” it all down. Andrew Weaver, a talented veteran of freestyle and an active participant in the Cypher Univercity, describes it this way: “You’re thinking out loud and adding rhyme and rhythm….You dream with your words. Freestyling is letting go.” Ever feel like you are going to explode and need to write down everything you feel before it is too late? You may not have a piece of paper or journal handy to write down your thoughts or a way to
what you see in front of you. Many find the use of metaphors and similes very helpful as they let the words flow through their minds and out their mouths. “Don’t over think it. Open your mind like a stream, be able to hear your thoughts and speak it” suggests Weaver after being asked about tips that he would give those who want to explore the world of freestyling. A Place to Express Yourself A good freestyle battle can be found anywhere. You may come in contact with it at a hip hop show or you may see it in a hip hop video. One of the best places to find talented people freestyling, is in a cypher. You can even experience it among
write a poem that seems to really express how you feel. But there is freestyling which is an excellent therapeutic exercise to help get out that frustration that seems to be building up inside. For some poets, a good freestyle can help put their ideas together better so they can create an amazing poem. Same goes for hip hop artists who are looking for new inspiration for music. Freestyle is an impressive form of entertainment. Sometimes you need to express yourself with words out loud. Freestyle is a rap that you can do without music. You do not have to make the words rhyme either. Try to create a rhythm that can flow your words together in your head if there is no instrumental music available. The most basic way to start your freestyle
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Photo Credit: Danielle Obimah
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your friends as you come up with lyrics from the
night to share in the love that is spread through the
top of your head. A favorite place many people like
creative words and minds of the talented artists
to go to hear some great freestyling can be found
who come to share in the world of freestyling.
at the cypher at the NC State Expression Tunnel on
If you are interested in doing something different
the NC State University campus in Raleigh, North
or expressing yourself in a whole new way, the art
Carolina. Here you can find people like Andrew
of freestyle is a great start. Close your eyes and
Weaver and other individuals of all backgrounds
release yourself in the words that flow throughout
come out to this special event every Monday night
your cluttered mind and out of your mouth. Your
to share and express themselves with others. There
best poetry ideas, music ideas, or just creative
is no booing or disrespect in this particular cypher.
ideas in general could originate from your ability
It takes a lot of courage to express your feelings in
to freestyle out loud. Don’t think about it. Just
front of strangers but there is no other place more
do it and release yourself into this quick thinking
comfortable to freestyle than at this cypher. There
expressive form of art we call freestyling.
is a reason why so many come back each Monday NC State Free Expression Tunnel
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Spotlight Artist: The Queen Lioness By Tree Herndon
W
hen one thinks of a lion, no doubt, it’s ferocious roar comes to mind. The king of the jungle demands
attention and invokes a instantaneous reaction by simply opening its mouth. The same could be said about Yashika Dickerson, whose official performance name is Poetess Queen but is also known as, the Queen Lioness. Queen is a local up and coming spoken word entertainer with a raw intensity that far surpasses her name. She’s a Queen because she likes to exude beauty at all times, and a Lion because she devours any adversity that comes her way. But, Yashika is more than a person who recites poetry, she wants people to see her as an artist. She lives by her model of the “Trinity”. Simply put, she is a poet, a singer, and a rapper. If anyone has the privilege of attending any of her events, it’s easy to note that her is style unlike other spoken word artist. When Yashika performs, she aims to appeal to her audience’s senses using vivid imagery, modern dance, and eye-catching visuals. Her goal is to stimulate not only your emotions, but your mind.
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Like many Artist, Yashika’s craft comes from a deep dark place of pain, disappointment, and doubt. Fueled by stifled expectations and skepticism, she strives to overcome and exceed
“Simply put, she is a poet, a singer, and a rapper.”
any apprehensions. Adversities such as coming from a small country town of North Carolina, being homeless for three months, all alongside internal struggles, haven’t stopped Yashika from reaching towards her goals and far surpassing them. So far, she’s the CEO of DeepEntertainment Pro, has released two albums and has competed for the title of Ms. Full Figured North Carolina Pageant “I want to break the perception of what people think poetry should be, and inspire people to have confidence and creativity,” says Yashika. Yashika’s latest album called, Lioness Arising, debuted on August 14th. She speaks of the album as being a spoken word mixtape. That being said, you can expect the album to be a blend of spoken word, rap, reggae and R&B. We at InMind magazine agree that Yashika is an inspiration and encourage everyone to support her and keep up with the journey that lies ahead for her.
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We end this article with one of our favorite lines from her poem ‘Woman Warrior’: My sisters its time to stop surrendering to Despair, Discouragement, Disappointment, Depression! It is time for a Repossession. We must take back control over our Queendom! Because we are Queens. Sacred Entities With royal qualities That outweigh our insecurities. We have an innate strength of Survival to conquer these rulers that try to dominate, Utilizing the fire breathing energy underneath our
You can find Queens album: Arising Lioness at: www. deepentertainmentpro.wix. com//queen Follow her on: Twitter- @poetessqueen Facebook fan pageQueenofpoetry Tracks Queen recommends listening to on her album: THY SHALL WRITE POETRY -explains how deep her love for poetry is
breastplate.
“I want to break the perception of what people think poetry should be, and inspire people to have confidence and creativity,”
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The Poetry Block presents......
Winner of 2015 InMind Poetry Contest A Harrowing Candor By Colins Homles I find that I’ve got relatives trying to purge my mind, but I don’t mind because relatively my mind’s not even mine I just try to induce these rhymes to enthuse a new relationship, a 3 o’clock conversation resulting in complacency The vacancy in these eyes are defined by my repentance The new life that I live makes the older one not worth mention I thought i made a statement by living a life of solitude Boys will be boys and girls will be girls... That’s all it proves As my closet can no longer hold my skeletons, I find myself reflecting on the life that I once reveled in People that I left behind had undergone replacement I lost my family although we were of no relation
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My decaying mind obscures my thoughts and my perception Of a tombstone that reads R.I.P... Cuz it’s pieces I rest in Through a false resurrection my soul was condemned to apathy I realized this conflict in my mind would lead to agony Rapidly, a sentence was cast down on me emphatically And tragically, my world fell around me automatically Ironically, the sounad is more troubling than the silence The rage bound in my mind turns into physical violence I tried to shed a soul that was devoid of all affection But instead against my will I stood beside
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my own reflection Someone other than myself stared back at me through the looking glass, Accusing me and choosing to be reckless with my checkered past Usually I’d lose the fear the when restlessness had finally passed What used to be the truth to me was now just something of my past But how do I turn my past into my future? How can I regain the life that I know and that I am used to? Not by skipping the regional Catching the drama on YouTube But by meeting attendance and meditate on the new publications I read through But as i see you I become optophobic with the facts in front of me My eyes creep open only to be bludgeoned by reality And I’m sad to see that the world I romanticized in my absence And fantasized about would never happen Unrealistic expectations are the fastest path to madness
Rebuilding what I had lost and still praying that I don’t ruin it Killing off all these thoughts of discouragement while I’m doing it Wishing that I had counted the cost of my youthful foolishness But the price I paid changed the game and raised the stakes As the events in my mind replay I’m amazed I made such a mistake I walk around in a haze with a crazed look on my face As I impatiently await the day I can say I’m not a disgrace But what if that day never comes? If the sun never sets again then the damage is done And here I am thinking the battle is almost won When in reality the war on my soul has only begun.
But as it happens I was still on the fast track to gathering back this Fraction of an existence set ablaze as if by matches I extinguish the flames and fashion my thoughts intentions and actions After my influences, educated though truant
Keep up with each issue’s featured poetry. Do you have a poem you want to share? Send it in! Submit your poetry to info@inmindmagazine.com. It could be your poem one day!
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The Diary of a Foodie: Discovering the World One Bite at a Time By Tree Herndon
L
et’s just get this out of the way: I love food! I could eat all types of food. I don’t discriminate. I’ll take a good
meal over a critically acclaimed movie or a shopping spree at the Mall of America. I might even take one over my very own mom! (Hi, mom!) So naturally, this column is dedicated to all of my food junkies, and to our love for all the delicious, delectable glory of food. My love for food was born like most die heart foodies: at a young and innocent age. Born in the South, I had my fair share of crispy, hot fried chicken; buttery, smooth mashed potatoes; savory, juicy
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collard greens; and cheesy, creamy macaroni and cheese. (Hungry yet?) Trust me, I enjoyed every bit of it. But as I got older, my taste buds ached for something more, something different and exciting. These constant thoughts gnawed at me. (Dramatic? I know.) Being the determined person that I am, I followed that ache and my nose to new and exciting adventures. I followed it to food adventures that is! This diary will be more than your conventional food critics. My goal is to hopefully open your eyes to different cultures, and to show you how being a foodie is about discovery. No, not just discovering someone else’s world through the food they eat, but the discovering of our true inner selves by what we do or do not eat. I want to wet your appetite to experience the world, with me, one bite at a time. I hope you can join me on this journey as I unlock a world abundant with delicious food and good eating! Until next time, eat well!
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The Poetry Block Our Featured Poem [Untitled] By Justin Lee
Who am I lying to? not to you...the only one other than I reading this tonight on the 15th of JULY. I’m on my knees begging please I’m not lying when I say it was for you...but it feels misguided. You made your choice. I’m not scared to say you made something wrong but how else ya GONNA KNOW YOU’RE RIGHT? Am I right IT doesn’t matter I did what I could. NAH- that’s just SUMMERTIME SADNESS TALKING NON-
SENSE. IT ALL FEELS SO LESS. I should LET IT GO. LET... I don’t want to... BUT I DID IT ANYWAY! because it was true. AND now... I’m off now... Pity for me for holding on, to me believing in you who trusts in me to carry you...when THE YOUTH we’ve spent years denying as ageless, but it catches up, just as it does to YOU. LAND, but what makes you think they’re on land? if not a falsity as fraGILE AS you, off alone to the ocean that is your own, though you don’t want it to be. You want.......
Keep up with each issue’s featured poetry. Do you have a poem you want to share? Send it in! Submit your poetry to info@inmindmagazine.com. It could be your poem one day!
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How Poetry Soothes the Soul By Tree Herndon
Brother I don’t want to hear about how my real enemy is the system. i’m no genius, but i do know that system you hit me with is called a fist. -Pat Parker
D
omestically-abused ones around
Regardless of the abuse or trauma experienced,
the world can read Pat Parker’s
using our words to form poetry is a creative outlet
poem, and relate it to their daily
that can act as a salve to soothe a damaged soul.
struggle. When read, Parker’s words come alive and paint a vivid picture of inward pain, but mostly, a picture of hope. When verbally abused, words have the power to disassemble and destroy, but when we
When written, poetry allows a person to recognize and label their feelings. Studies have shown that labeling our emotions turns down the response
cherish our ability to communicate, our
in the brain that triggers negative emotions.
words can upbuild and regenerate.
This makes sense because self-realization requires
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NC State Expression Tunnel us to be honest with ourselves and the situation,
Writers aren’t the only ones who can benefit
possibly offering clarity even if a solution isn’t
from the healing properties of poetry. Poetry
clear in sight. For some, poetry acts as therapy,
helps remedy the ones reading the words as well.
helping them to step back and evaluate their
The interesting thing about poetry is that, when
situation or their thought process.
the words are read with an open heart, anyone
Registered Poetry Therapist Perie J. Longo tells us
can relate. But, when reading poetry that directly
that “the word therapy, after all, comes from the
speaks to our life, we are given a voice to express
Greek word Therapeia. Meaning to nurse or cure
how we feel on the inside. Famous poet Diane
through dance, song, poem and drama”
Ackerman relates, “Because poets feel what we’re
Because many depressed ones have lost a sense
afraid to feel, venture where we’re reluctant to
of “self”, physically putting their feelings into
go, we learn from their journeys without taking
words helps speed up the healing process by
the same dramatic risk.”
giving them the ability to define who they are.
Yes, poetry builds bridges into someone else’s
Longo also brings out that, this focus of using
mind or world, and it could give us a way out of
poetry for healing requires self-expression and
our own misery or trauma. Being given another
growth. Together, not only do they give us further
perspective from our own, it can act as the ropes
insight into ourselves, they give us clarity and a
that pull us up out of the deep chasm of pain.
hope for the future.
In addition, it gives a sense that we are not alone. It helps to know that other people are going
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through the same thing and have gotten to the light at the end of the tunnel. We all could recall to mind the popular chant, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” This familiar rhyme could be heard from young kids all throughout the hallways of elementary schools around the states. It was a way for desperate youths to locate their voice and establish their place in society. But, how far from true those words were. We know words have the power to inflict the worst pain, at times, more so than being physically assaulted or having our bones broken. The great late poet Maya Angelou was certain that words are things, and the words we use get into everything: the walls, clothing and eventually into us. As humans living in a world with pain, abuse, fear and doubts, it’s easy to allow ourselves to be swallowed up in misery. But, using our words to form poetry gives every human, whether writing or reading, a voice. And even better, like honey, it soothes the soul.
References: -“Writing down Feelings Really Does Make Us Feel Better, Study Says.” Science 2.0. June 1, 2007. Accessed September 14, 2015. www. science20.com/news/writing_down_feelings_really_does_make_us_feel_better_study_says. -Iskov, I. (2015, September 14). Why Poetry is Important. Retrieved September 16, 2015. -Housden, R., 2011. Why Poetry is Necessary [WWW Document]. The Huffington Post. URL http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/884319 (Accessed 4.15) -Lundberg, J. (2008, December 24). Can Poetry Heal. Retrieved September 14, 2015, from http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/145560
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