Rudy Francisco. All made by things that were used to take people's lives, “When it feels like God is just a babysitter that’s always on the phone, when you get punched in the oesophagus by a fistful of life, remember that every year two million people die of dehydration so it doesn’t matter if the glass is half full or half empty, there’s water in the cup. [14] Many of his poems are on YouTube, some of which, like "Scars/To the New Boyfriend" have accumulated over a million views. However, after watching it a couple times I finally understood it and was in awe of his approach in presenting this performance. Oh that’s that new superhero, right? At the age of 21, Rudy completed his B.A. In-Depth Look: Rudy Francisco – “The Heart and The Fist”. When I was 6 I was taught how to throw a punch, [14] They help him improve and it brings out the best in him. Rudy Francisco is the 2009 National Underground Poetry Slam Champion, 2010 Individual World Poetry Slam Champion and appeared on TV One’s “Verses and Flow”. The second half of this poem deals with how violence equating to masculinity has been ingrained into young boys through his use of of a metaphor as his “bloody knuckles” are his “first piece of artwork…hung on the fridge.” Francisco expresses the confusion he feels for being awarded for his violence through an analogy as he knows he is “passing” but has “no idea what class.” He further reiterates his confusion as men “don’t even know” what the imperative “man up” really means. I selected these slam poems especially because they cover a diverse range of topics and I believe will change your opinion if you’re reluctant about poetry. He was born, raised and still resides in San Diego, California. In 2012, Pedro Reyes, an artist from Mexico City, convinced his government to donate the guns to him and he turned them into musical instruments. He also uses this technique of continually starting his poem to reflect how America dismisses the issue of unjust police brutality on black people as the “printer keeps on whiting out the black” and how he as a black writer is inclined to “compose a dead thing out of his mouth.” I particularly admired the confronting simile he uses explaining that he is filled with “so many eulogies” like a “Russian doll of the dead.”. Complainers Lyrics. Appreciating poetry is often about patience: sitting with a poem, meditating on it, and re-reading it multiple times. “A weapon will always be a weapon, but we choose how we fight the war.”. As an artist, Rudy Francisco combines activism and poetry to enlighten the minds of those who witness his performance. of [his] smile.”, However, he refuses to “ruin someone’s day with his tragic honesty” and uses a simile to explain that he combats his depression by treating his face “like a pumpkin.” He “carves it into something acceptable” and musters up an “I’m doing alright.”, This poem seamlessly connects guns and toxic masculinity to As an artist, Rudy Francisco is an amalgamation of social critique, introspection, honesty and humor. If you liked this review or have any feedback, please let me know! (Please note I have also excluded including earlier slam poets and I will do that in another post shortly. He will be the host city coordinator for the Individual World Poetry Slam taking place in Southern California taking place on May 13, 2019. My fist 5 pennies, “Man up? The first time one of my classmates took a 'Yo Mama' joke a little too far I remembered my training, He has conducted guest lectures and performances at countless colleges and universities across the nation. At the age of 21, Rudy completed his B.A in Psychology and decided to continue his education by pursuing a MA in Organizational Leadership. And then we just ignore all the damage they're doing in the distance. Remember, you are still here. [19][20], Rudy Francisco performed his spoken-word poem "Complainers" on his first appearance on the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on March 1, 2018. He emphasises through his use of repetition of “tell me” and alliteration of “stole the keys to your smile” that despite the unpleasantness of early rises and daily routine, it’s a blessing and shouldn’t be complained about as it is “so small it can fit on the tips of our tongues.”, “Tragedy and silence often have the exact same address.”. Drink it, and stop complaining.”. And isn't that what masculinity has become? Yesterday, I injured myself and the explanation didn't make sense. You are still alive. This series is about taking that chance, and diving a little deeper into some of the new poems going up on Button. Francisco realises that violence and masculinity are not connected through a comparison of the heart and the fist as they are both the “same size”, but have “different functions.” He concludes this piece with another powerful comparison explaining how he has learned that the “difference between a garden and a graveyard” is only what is “put in the ground.” Here, he reinforces that destruction can be reversed. [14] He found that slam combines his two favorite things: writing and performing. Tell me! I didn't know what class this was, Take a look at Button's Privacy Policy. I decided to review “Helium” as his use of repetition specifically anaphora, first person and personal stories combined with factual evidence in his work is both confronting, heart-warming and enchanting. – Poetry Slam Inc", "6 Teams You Don't Want To Miss At the National Poetry Slam", "Rudy Francisco (@rudyfrancisco) • Instagram photos and videos", "San Diego Poetry Slam Team Celebrates National Championship Win – Voice and Viewpoint", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rudy_Francisco&oldid=986485872, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, 2008 Member of the Hollywood Poetry Slam Team, 2009 National Underground Poetry Individual Champion, 2009 3rd place in the Individual World Poetry Slam, 2010 Member of the San Diego Poetry Slam Team (Regional Champion/6th ranked team in the nation), 2010 Individual World Poetry Slam Slam Champion, This page was last edited on 1 November 2020, at 04:30. It feels electric– partly because it does all of those “traditional format” things so perfectly (as though this were the platonic ideal of a slam poem) and partly because of its message, which is vital and incredibly timely. Rudy eloquently absorbs the experiences of those around him, synthesizes them an And from this I learned that even the most destructive instruments can still create a melody worth dancing to, (This poem does deal with an extremely sensitive topic, so please take necessary precaution. It makes a critique, and it also offers hope, all through the lens of individual experience (as opposed to finger-pointing or abstract intellectualizing).