"What moves men or (woman) of talents or rather what inspires their work, is not new ideas, but their obsession with the idea that what has already been said is still not enough.".....Eugene Delacroix
Oni Lasana the poet, discovered and nurtured a spirit driven
passion for poetry as a youth. From the time she learned to write, Oni penned love poems to her mother. Her first published poem "Tropic Of Dreams" won 1st place at her elementary school's poetry contest.
The poems prophetic message manifested itself, when as an adult
she "bloomed where planted" just outside her hometown of brotherly love and sisterly affection. (Philadelphia) Oni married and raised her children and creatively touched the lives of many other youth in the beautiful countryside of Coatesville, PA.
Oni's creative journey engages diverse communities as she shares her talents with other artists and business associates. Artistic collaborations have garnered unending motivation and endless inspiration from her travels. From Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Berkeley, Oakland, Jamaica, Miami, Mississippi, Germany, England, Trinidad & Tobago to Zimbabwe!
Listen to Oni's spoken word tribute to her of music here....
Music : Coxsone Music Co. of Jamaica
Oni enjoys sharing life lessons on human nature, through the performing arts of storytelling and poetry.
~ Published Poetry ~
Gardenia's & Gumbeaux, 2011
Real Tales Of Rhymes & Reasons, 2001
A Soul Sister From Cool World Valley, 1996
~ ~ ~
Hear Oni rap Paul Laurence Dunbar's "We Wear The Mask" in the award winning audio children's book HIP HOP SPEAKS TO CHILDREN edited by Nikki Giovanni on Sourcebook, Inc.
Clik on this You Tube link to hear Nikki speak on the books universal appeal.
“As a young girl and budding poet, she treasured Gwen Brooks, Margaret Walker,
Langston Hughes and Paul Laurence Dunbar. Her most recent affinity is for Oni Lasana.”
Daily Press, Hampton Virginia on Nikki Giovanni, Professor of English at Virginia Tech
"Story Poet" In The Company Of Poets
Philly First & Finest Female Spoken Word Ensemble
Mid Atlantic Sexual Assault Conference, Valley Forge, PA
~ CD Recordings~
Sister Wings, Spoken Wordsongs, Bass & Beats, original poems
with Oni on bass guitar.
Doin' Dunbar As 'Lias' Mother
Featuring the dialect poetry of Paul Laurence Dunbar
I Dreamt, MLK Jr., the single / Music: Samori Coles
All CD's available for download purchases & listening on CD page.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Thanks to poet & author, Pat McLean of In The Company of Poets,
for I-spiration on this one...
"IF I WERE A TREE" by Oni Lasana
If I were a tree
I would never be
A tree dogs paused to pee
Because I must be a lady tree!
On my head would be leaves of dread
Under my feet would lay the dead
Thru my branches my sun would gleam
By my side flowin'...my cousin Stream
Deep in my arms...no one can see
Nesting in peace
bird families
"If I were a tree" I would be a sycamore
No man would hang from
a transformed door
I would be shade for lovers to rest
Standing tall no matter how small
That would be me
a sycamore tree.
"If I were a tree" I would be a palm tree
blowing in the breeze
Going with the flow...humble
down on knees
Cool...laid to the side
Resting in the sand
Caribbean pride
Contemplating pirates
Discovering me
"If were a tree" I'd be a coconut tree
Offering shelter water food
Nurturing hue-mans the best I could
I'd be in plain sight near the sea
palms waving to everyone to see
Towering as I was meant to be
my creator's vision
I'd just be me
a coconut tree.
If I were a tree
A bamboo patch I'd be
Never alone, always together
"Sticks in a bundle are unbreakable"
So it is with me
Strong powerful music I'd make
Holding up building
Original...not fake
Bamboo...bamboo, Bamboo
I like calling my name
Don't you?
If I were a tree, I'd be a baobab
Reaching out...older than time
Shading griot's under African sun
Listening to poets rhythm rhyme reasons
Village children sit beneath me
Listen to stories, set them free
Learning African his/her story
Rooted unmovable
that is me.
If I were a tree
A baobab
I'd be.
7-28-2013
(C) 2013 Oni Lasana
To SEE, READ of LISTEN to Oni's original poetry visit the poetry or Sister Wings page!
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