Morgan Varnado
Morgan Varnado is a writer, poet, producer, from Oak Park Illinois currently studying at Brown University. Growing up in a predominantly white suburb, his poetry is a fist fight between his contradicting upbringings, both taking part in raising him through love or spite. In his art, he tackles coming-of-age, identity, acceptance, and reclamation taking inspiration from the myriad of Black art before him. He invites the reader into his lifelong journey to find self-worth and community.
The impact of poetry and the spoken word club
Having to read and write poetry everyday becomes its own lesson plan. The work I did and was exposed to after school at Spoken Word was the extra class I never asked for but learned the most from. The power of the written word, the empathic capability poetry offers, the little things you see in yourself after sitting down and reflecting on the page; all vital lessons I learned from Oak Park and River Forest’s spoken word club. A poem becomes so much more than a fancy way to tell a story when you spend time with it everyday. It becomes a craft, something that forces you to be intentional and deliberate with it, as ginger and focused as the stare of a sewing needle. In that everyday practice, going to room 375/370 and writing with like minded poets and sharing through spoken word our vast experiences, life becomes a craft. Spoken Word showed me the importance of time and what you gain-what you become- when you focus your time and intention. Before Spoken Word, when I was a gangly freshman, thirty seconds was way too long-I was impatient and impulsive. I wrote short, goofy poems about whatever came to mind, like how toilet paper probably contributed to deforestation and the affect my butt had on the environment. I am still those things, and write about my butt from time to time, however now I have a deeper appreciation for that which takes time. I would have never have gotten this far without Spoken Word and I am infinitely grateful for what spoken word has taught me, and how the club has changed me for the better.
Top favorite poets or lyricists
Yusef komunyakaa
Hanif Abduraqib
Danez Smith (whenever I need inspiration or a discipline reminder I look towards these poets)
more from morgan
Connect with morgan bandcamp
Writing Prompts
Compare America (or another place) to a thing
Compare and contrast two family members creating a different metaphor for each
Write about a time you stood up for something or someone who needed protection