Poetry Speaks Experience

A poetry celebration of nature, science, the environment, and the wonder of it all, from the Children's Poet Laureate The Tree That Time Built is a moving anthology of more than 100 poems celebrating the wonders of the natural world and encouraging environmental awareness. With a focus on the outdoors, this collection taps into today's environmental movement and also presents wonders of nature and science, most especially Darwin's theory of evolution, from which this collection gains its name. Included is an exclusive audio CD of many of the poets reading their own work. Including dynamic introductions to nine sections of poems, plus brief introductions to many individual poems, this collection reaches out to young people and stimulates their innate curiosity and idealism.

Get on Stage and Perfect Your Performance. Have you ever enjoyed a slam or two and thought, "I could do this," but felt apprehensive staring at that empty mic, or, worse, you climbed up on stage and struggled? Let Marc Kelly Smith, the founder of Slam Poetry, teach you everything you need to be a confident performer, from writing a powerful poem, to stage techniques, to going on tour (if that's where your muse leads you). Take the Mic is filled with insider tips, backstage advice, and tons of examples of slam poems that wake up an audience. With this book, you'll also be able to link to the PoetrySpeaks.com community to listen to samples, meet poets, and unearth inspirations for your next performance. The Ultimate Guide to Writing and Performing with Power Take the Mic is an essential guide for lifting your poetry from the page to the stage. Marc Kelly Smith (So What!), grand founder of the Slam movement, serves as you personal coach, showing you how to craft stage-worthy verse and deliver a poetry performance that shakes the rafters and sparks thunderous applause. In Take the Mic, you discover how to... • Pen poetry that's conducive to on-stage performance. • Overcome stage fright. • Practice powerful performance techniques. • Rehearse like a pro. • Shape a loose collection of poems into a killer set. • Connect with your audience. • Master the art of self-promotion. • Schedule your own slam poetry tour. • Transform your hobby into paying gigs. • Act professional to establish a solid reputation in the Slam community. Take the Mic is packed with practical exercises you can do alone or in class to hone your skills and transform your body, mind, voice, verse, and spirit into an engaging stage presence. You'll also find a brief history of slam, the rules and regulations that govern official slam competitions, and a list of PSI (Poetry Slam, Inc.) Certified Slams, so no matter where you are, you always have a place to Take the Mic!