The Muruku Murmurations

For July's Spill The Ink Workshop , Melizarani gave us pointers on what makes a good slam poem. One of the assignments was to pick an item in your bag, write 10 lines to introduce yourself based on the item. Rearrange the sentences in priority and decide the tone of the poem. The item I chose to write about was a bar of Cadbury chocolate. Sharing unearths our favourite memories of sweetness and comfort Our inner childhood desire for pure innocence and pleasure; Pleasant and demure. Breaking through the royal purple sheets The disguises and masks we put on every day Looking at the cracks and creases patched up by gold Irresistible from its centre through and through A symbol of richness for the poor. - Swit Marie 0328H  24th July 2018 Taman Bahagia

This piece is a rooted in stories and pictures about 3 memories that are very close to Dhinesha 's heart. It was an exercise from Arielle Cottingham 's workshop held by Spill The Ink . I performed this piece for Georgetown Literary Festival 's closing ceremony, an open  m ic  session curated by the If Walls Could Talk team. The assignment : 1. Share stories based on pictures with our partner 2. Freewrite with those stories in mind 3. Extract 5 favourite lines/parts and piece them together 4. Edit the piece and add in motion to represent the words 5. Present the work in progress with the motions and receive critique . My critique was: 1. Create a constant circular motion through out the performance 2. Pull out expressions from that pool/universe I have created with my circular motion 3. Stretch and express certain words 4. Play with rhythm and sound See see see sea See water See breeze See me Sea The seas par       ...

There are two versions of this piece. I initially wrote it with the intent to extend but during Bill Moran 's workshop organised by Spill The Ink  at Twenty20Two , I decided to use this piece to 'litter'. He taught us about making the poem a dream spac e and using the poem to transport us through a space and how we relate to space in the poem. Fine time grounded porcelain time time time powder weaving time across time and time again through shallow time channels of dry dessert land, crackles time and shattered t i m e with t... i... m... e... dense solid clay, t ime unbreakable time , unmovable time   time time time time time unwilling to shift TIME . Above time and time beyond the horizon is t-t-t-time ti-me time TIME TIME TIME a massive intense thunder storm arising time and t - i - m - e spreads across the landscape. TIME roars fiercely but time is not threatening but soft time drizzling appears at first time then time turns into pouring time drowning ...

This piece was written during The Muddy Confluence, a workshop put together by Afi Noor and Lily Jamaludin from Speakcity Asia for Projek Dialog and  Thinkcity 's Pesta Puisi Kota . A day filled with spoken word, heavy topics that hit home, and a melting pot of beautiful muddy poetry. Prompt: Write 14 lines about how you arrived at this city and what makes Kuala Lumpur your home. Kring... Kring... Kring... Nenekku sampai di jeti (My grandmother arrives at the jetty) Kulitnya kering dari Gunung Timur Cina (Her skin dry from the East Mountains of China) Kurus kering badannya. (Her body; just skin and bones.) Kring... Kring... Kring... Datukku sampai ke stesen kereta api (My grandfather arrives at the train station) Kulitnya kasar menjadi orang buruh (His skin rough being a labourer) Melombong bijih timah (Mining tin) Bertemu di Jalan Petaling-ling-ling-ling (They meet in Petaling-ling-ling-ling Street) Di mana Wong and Tang bertemu dengan harapan. ...

I made a recent getaway to Singapore and wanted to spend some time living and exploring. I sought out this place not by chance but by pure attraction to a night of fond memories and a new found haven. Your trip will not be complete until you visit The Other Room . A part of this piece was performed at Rather Spectacular! Showcase led by Scotty Wings . He made all this writing possible and has transformed me with his dedication and work. 'Shadows' was performed with Afi Noir, Jack Malik and Dhinesha. It was a liberating experience courtesy of Spill The Ink Poetry Lab and If Walls Could Talk Here resides the lurking shadows of curiosity Where the unknown meets the wandering soul There is nothing more than finesse and character Carefree and wild is the playful creator. Sitting in the corner where the corners of her smile meets the crow's feet of her eyes Her face caressed by the delicate light that shines from the warm fluorescence Leaving a silhouett...

This was written as a challenge from Angelia One from Team Demigods who teaches the Semigods . #feartheredpen During the # SpillTheInk workshop with Scott Sneddon . # 2017inkedwallsday 30 # 2017inkedwallsprompt 30 # spilltheink # napowrimo # npwm   # napowrimo2017 One Two Three Maybe I will let it be... White or blue One line or two It really isn't up to you. All you want is a son My bearing hips Flowering canals I will say when I am done. I am clothed by your pride Your strength wraps my wrist My innocence replaced by your essence Where I lie is your bliss. My loss is your gain Your pleasure is my pain. I am bare As I am green You are blue Under it all, You have not a clue. - Swit Marie 1235H 29th April 2017 Titik Merah Gallery

This was the activity/assignment Scott Sneddon gave the kids for the # SpillTheInk workshop held at the end of # NaPoWriMo. We had to walk around the gallery and write a poem about the artwork. It should reference the artwork and it should also be able to stand alone as a poem. #NPWM #2017inkedwallsday29 #2017inkedwallsprompt29 #NaPoWriMo2017 Beneath the surface Locked away Hidden treasures Rooted here to stay. In the clouds Or underwater? Could it be bulbs Or tubers? Growth restricted Some escapes Floating to where the air goes Or how the water flows. From the start, it is cultivated Submerged in culture Strongly rooted Blossoming with hope. - Swit Marie 1211pm 29th April 2017 Titik Merah Gallery

NaPoWriMo Day 22 Prompt taken from Spill The Ink Poetry Lab by If Walls Could Talk KL "Write about a journey. It could be internal or external, real or imagined" #spilltheink #murukumurmurations #2017inkedwallsday22 #2017inkedwallsprompt22 #NaPoWriMo2017 #NaPoWriMo #NPWM At this very moment My eyelids descend My mind starts to flow Into the deep my heart descends, Making sure not to resist the flow, My memories lapse for a moment. My soul streams with the flow, Engaged in the present moment, Ready to slingshot out of the descend. A new moment arises, a new flow from a descend to ascension. - Swit Marie 1826H, 26th April 2017 Astro HQ

NaPoWriMo Day 18 Prompt taken from  Spill The Ink Poetry Lab by  If Walls Could Talk KL " Making Metaphors! Make a list of characteristics of the concrete activity and a list of characteristics of the abstract concept. Then put the two things together in your poem. For example - How driving in KL is like battling a disease. Bonus: make it funny " Check out Taylor Mali’s ‘ Why falling in Love is like Owning a Dog ’. Check out Cat Brogan's poem - Check out Cat Brogan's poem - A Teacher is a Gardener . # SpillTheInk # 2017inkedwallsday18 # 2017inkedwallsprompt18 # NaPoWriMo2017 # NaPoWriMo # NPWM Branding. It's all about the branding, If you don't believe me Just look at sales and marketing. Shoppers go for certain brands Much like... How each person has a type Or follow many trends. If you like the type Or follow the hype You'll take a closer look Or instantly get hooked. They all come with a different price tag, Is it withi...

This prompt was given by Angelia Ong of #TDGEducation for #NaPoWriMo2017 on # SpillTheInk " Write a poem written from your shadow's perspective. Share us where is its fave place, and what does it think about you. Does your shadow listen to the same music? Does your shadow not like poems? Does your shadow want to take charge, for once? What would your shadow do? BONUS 1: use a social media format (Facebook statuses, Twitter, Instagram, or text messages). I posted this on The Muruku Murmurations Facebook page for this bonus. #2017inkedwallsprompt06 #2017Inkedwallsdays06 #NPWM #NaPoWriMo You walk with a stride like a force to be reckoned with Unafraid yet terrified Confident yet threading on paper thin ice Knowing what is coming yet recklessly dashing through every corner. Fuelled by a desire to discover A hunger to seek A craving to recover A satisfaction only fulfilled if you are found. You lift your heels off the ground Trying to reach for hi...

NaPoWriMo Day 5 Prompt taken from  Spill The Ink Poetry Lab by  If Walls Could Talk KL "Write a poem from the perspective of the rain. What kind of rain is it? When does it happen? How do(es) it/he/she/they feel? Where does it land? On whose shoulders? On whichrooftop? What does it see?" #2017inkedwallsday05 #2017inkedwallsprompt05 #NaPoWriMo2017 #NaPoWriMo #NPWM The sirens are blaring once again Blinding flares calling for our attention Flashes get more and more frequent With deafening roars following it soon after That is my call to action. No more blue skies, Everything turns grey My peripheral vision goes blur My eyes on the prize All my focus is on the drop zone. The scouters get sent out in the first wave They merely send a warning Telling all to take cover Take whatever you can save Because soon it will all be over. We gather and say a little prayer There is power in numbers We, the sturdy ones Prepare to strike at the peak of the ambush Right after the...

NaPoWriMo Day 4 Prompt taken from  Spill The Ink Poetry Lab by  If Walls Could Talk KL " Write a poem using a line or verse from a song that you love!" Using the lyrics from " Scars To Your Beautiful " by ALESSIA CARA as response and using my words to respond to her lines. #2017inkedwallsday04 #2017inkedwallsprompt04 #NaPoWriMo2017 #NaPoWriMo #NPWM Why do you defile the walls of your holy temple? "She just wants to be beautiful." The comments of acquaintances and strangers are ample. "She craves attention, she praises an image." The pain resembles repetitive scrapping of a blunt scalpel. "So she tries to cover up her pain, and cut her woes away." I live not by judgement or instruction but by example. "She goes unnoticed, she knows no limits." "She prays to be sculpted by the sculptor." It is true that my body was sculpted by God. "Oh she don't see the light that's...

NaPoWriMo Day 3 Prompt taken from  Spill The Ink Poetry Lab by  If Walls Could Talk KL and Poetry Cafe KL "Pick a colour OTHER than blue, find 5 items of that colour throughout your day, and write a poem on how they've made the blues worse (or not!). even if you want blue, pick a certain shade. BONUS! if you want to win extra points, write a haiku for each item. A haiku is traditional Japanese form, which consists of three-lines. The first and last line has 5 syllables, whereas the second line has 7 syllables. Example: I wish I can sleep but Monday forced me to wake up and write this down EXTRA BONUS! Poetry Cafe KL introduces a new form called Haibun, in which you can try it out if you want!" "Basically, haibun is the combination of two poems: a prose poem and haiku. For a further guide on how to write  haibun . For example: In the shadow of the Nevado del Ruiz, rice farmers woke as if on any other morning. Their daily pleasures and worri...

NaPoWriMo Day 2 Prompt taken from  Spill The Ink Poetry Lab by  If Walls Could Talk KL "In 14 lines, tell me how unusual your Sunday can be.  Begin with "The light hits..." This time around, try to be more specific! Take notes of your usual dwellings and haunts- the name of the mall, the clothes you're wearing, the black battered MyVi you're in, or the pothole you always swerve away from. Bonus! Include an unexpected encounter with an old flame. Be creative; it may or may not be human." # 2017inkedwallsday02 # 2017inkedwallsprompt02 # NaPoWriMo2017 The light hits my tired eyes While Sunday is the Sabbath day for people to get wise It is a day that reminds me Of your perfectly angled features The unruly spikes on your head The sunshine you used to be I can't help but see your ghost Appearing in all my private spaces Your shadow that lingers on my skin as I tie my shoe laces I hide in the asylum of my shell Trying to avoid the vibratio...

NaPoWriMo Day 1 Prompt taken from Spill The Ink Poetry Lab by If Walls Could Talk KL "Let's introduce ourselves with an Acrostic poem of your name! It's a form in which the first letter of every sentence adds up to a phrase." # 2017inkedwallsday1 # 2017inkedwallsprompt01 # NaPoWriMo2017 Cause and effect are how I manage mySelf Hiding away in my thoughts as I lie aWake Always searching to fulfil my Ideals Making sure I do my best every Time Eliminating my imperfections Meticulously Leaving behind a landfield of Ash Enticing my limits beyond my Reach Obviously overzealous and over Indulgent Never letting past mistakes be my Eternity. - Swit Marie 23:25H 1st April 2017 Kuching City