#3amblackpoetry

#nationalpoetrymonth

Day 2 of 30, @3amblack

Hi friends, it’s Day 2, and I’m already super grateful for the abundance of writers, artists and community members joining and engaging with #3amblackpoetry during #nationalpoetrymonth.

If you are new to participating or joining this journey, and you are wondering what to do with these prompts - it’s up to you! As the creator and editor at 3 AM IS THE NEW BLACK, and a writer and artist myself, making these (hopefully!) daily prompts serves as my moment to create during a month where writers and creatives the country and world over have pledged to produce. The posts are also a community-building tool and invitation to be part of a digital community - for the month or beyond.

I’m excited about the different ways that inspiration, collaboration, meditation, and elucidation are coming together this year; be on the lookout for lots of multimedia content. In the meantime, I know some people are still looking at the accompanying visual (and maybe this caption) and wondering how to start or proceed. Well, the word abundance keeps coming up for me, so I ran with it. But you can see in the image that besides the actual word-as-prompt there is a background image, and pictured on that background is a stack of books you can see through the graphic art. Maybe it’s not the word abundance, but one of the titles in the background. Or maybe it’s a combination of the word abundance and one label in particular that sparked ideas. Whatever it is, do it; No pressure and no accountability except what you build (and adapt) for yourself.

Sunshine and laughter, and Happy Poetry Month. - Reza Rites

#3amblackpoetry #3amblack #nationalpoetrymonth #rezarites #poetry #blackpoets #blackwomenwriters #writersofinstagram #onlineshop #collageart #blackgirlmagic #writingwhileblack #poetry #art #blackownedbusiness #blackbusinesses #blackwomanownedbusiness #buyfromblackwomen #carefreeblackgirl #blackwriters #digitalart #collageart #blackwriters #blackwomanpoets #blackartists #blackwritersofinstagram #MFA #askmeaboutit

It is April 1.

We do #3amblackpoetry during #nationalpoetrymonth.

3 AM IS THE NEW BLACK.

#3amblackpoetry #3amblack #nationalpoetrymonth #rezarites #poetry #blackpoets #blackwomenwriters #writersofinstagram #onlineshop #collageart #blackgirlmagic #writingwhileblack #poetry #art #blackownedbusiness #blackbusinesses #blackwomanownedbusiness #buyfromblackwomen #carefreeblackgirl #blackwriters #digitalart #collageart #blackwriters #blackwomanpoets #blackartists #blackwritersofinstagram #MFA #askmeaboutit

Friends, I’m super excited and giddy to get the word out about my poetry performance comin up on Tue. November. I have some stuff in the vault that might be ready for sunshine (or moonlight), and I’ve got some recently released poetry collections, so I may share some of those pieces as well. I hope you join me!

Spoken Word and Poetry Meet featuring Reza “Rites” Clifton, Tuesday, Nov 1 · 7:30–9:30 PM, hosted by Jaybird Walker at R1 Indoor Karting, 100 Higginson Ave, Lincoln, RI.

The night will start with an open mic, followed by me sharing poetry and storytelling from 3 AM IS THE NEW BLACK (@3amblack). I can’t wait!

#rezarites #3amblack #ambitiousblackfeminist #3amblackpoetry #vanity4themovement #joyisthemovement #blackgirlmagic #carefreeblackgirl #blackwomenwriters #blackwomenpoets #blackpoets #blackpoetsofinstagram #blackwritersofinstagram #poetry #storytelling

https://www.instagram.com/p/CkRetQ4vkH-/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

3amblackpoetry in July, Post 23

#3amblackpoetry in July Prompt 23: Xerosis, Xebec, Xenial Prompt 23, 2020: Surreptitiously Spellbound

by Reza Rites

Y'all, it's Tuesday. Yet I, like many around the country and world, have spent the last few days (weeks, years) and then hours surreptitiously and openly following the story of USA Olympian Simone Biles. Right before our eyes, she has moved from highest-ranking gymnast, to gymnast being given scores with built-in anchors that kept her points extraneously lower than where they should be as an accommodation to her competition, to a gymnast who took second place at one of her events, to a person who is stepping away to make sure her mental health is in check. We've also seen tennis champion Naomi Osaka be outspoken about the need to center her own mental health, and for further inspiration (at least for me), we see athletes like the team from Norway protesting bikini bottoms and opting for full coverage sports, the Paralympian who spoke up about the Olympic management not fully honoring the accommodations and services of players with disabilities, and a sports reporter whose excellence was questioned just for the contrarian and whole world to see her move to even bigger and more prominent assignments. Athletes are humans first and Black Excellence isn't just a cute term; enough is enough with all things communicating the contrary.

I can partially relate to the enough is enough sentiment, which is why I took the day off yesterday. Yes, the goal of writing challenges and daily prompts is to create a ritual that sees you writing every day, but, at least for me, it is also about developing and constantly updating the ability to hear and trust my own voice. You cannot move a story or poem forward if you are always second-guessing those exact and precise moments of clarity that come to you. For me, yesterday, I heard such a clarion call, but this time it wasn't related to writing. When two friends spontaneously asked if I wanted to join them for a quick meet-up, before I could even weigh out and compare my xeroses- and panic-inducing tasklist versus their time-sensitive invitation, I had already said yes. When the warm, xenial, yet concise visit was over, I still had time to write and archive. That is until I drove past the water and the essence of the sea whispered in my ear, asking if I had time for a quick visit there too. Once again my subconsciousness answered before I could, and it wasn't long before I was gazing dreamily at miniature-waves that pushed sea froth against the seashell-lined shore, and at the horizon where sailboats and xebecs of a New England variety passed by, both, paradoxically, mighty and miniature in size. I had an epiphany, of sorts, upon reaching the beach: I needed a break from my boss and her workload, which in this case was me and what I was assigning to myself.

The poem included with today's post, Perennials, Part IV, touches on and issues a reminder to stay devoted to self-care. I'm glad to get back to things, but if I need another day, I'll make or request time with people I love, I'll visit and commune with the sea, or I'll look to the Osaka or Biles technique for getting the care I need. Happy #3amblackpoetry in July.

POEM/AUDIO LINK:

#3AmBlackPoetry #NationalPoetryMonth #PoetryInJuly #ChristmasInJuly #RezaRites #3AmBlack #Poetry #AmbitiousBlackFeminist #photography #DigitalArt #collage #CollageArt #CarefreeBlackGirl #BlackGirlMagic #BlackWriters #AfroFuturism #BlackWomenWriters #BlackWritersMatter #WomenWritersOfIG #SimoneBiles #NaomiOsaka #SummerOlympics2021

Oldie but goodie from April 2018 (Final edit/addition, July 2021)

Grapefruits and Sunrise By Reza Rites

I like early mornings And the taste, smell And feel of grapefruits

Pink juicy Textures Shape shifters Meant to be Enjoyed

Glee in a bite Or a glance

I should be Eating more sunrises And singing In reverence To the grapefruit

I can always start

Tomorrow Morning

I should be Eating more sunrises And singing In reverence To the grapefruit

#rezarites #3amblackpoetry #nationalpoetrymonth #3amblack #poetry #ambitiousblackfeminist

Release the light. Embrace the dark. While this certainly isn’t the final National Poetry Month prompt I anticipated when I set out this year, it is where I’ve landed. Is it a theme? Words in a poem? Call to action? It is what it has to be, and here it sits, for your consideration. Or not. Sunshine and laughter. - Reza Rites

#3AmBlackPoetry #NationalPoetryMonth #RezaRites #3AmBlack #Poetry #AmbitiousBlackFeminist #photography #DigitalArt #collage #CollageArt #CarefreeBlackGirl #BlackGirlMagic #BlackWriters #AfroFuturism #BlackWomenWriters #BlackWritersMatter #WomenWritersOfIG https://www.instagram.com/p/COeShzTHHn7/?igshid=wgsa9umj5kwy

I have faith

Hi friends, here’s a 29th prompt, carried into May, for National Poetry Month. I never aimed for perfection; just a ride that had a beginning and end. I am feeling a bit experimental, so this prompt could also be used as a group poem if anyone wants to add the next line. Sunshine and laughter. - Reza Rites

I have faith

#3AmBlackPoetry #NationalPoetryMonth #RezaRites #3AmBlack #Poetry #AmbitiousBlackFeminist #photography #DigitalArt #collage #CollageArt #CarefreeBlackGirl #BlackGirlMagic #BlackWriters #AfroFuturism #BlackWomenWriters #BlackWritersMatter #WomenWritersOfIG https://www.instagram.com/p/COY39zLnfjp/?igshid=1b89qs2ogunqy

I love to teach, tutor, mentor and support writers and people wanting to improve their writing. I have tips, tricks, and talks. I have blogs, workshops, and a network of youth and adult alumni. My approach is to listen, watch and observe, and to regularly walk away when reviewing student work - to discard and dispose of any escalating application of perfectionism; I am called to help, not demand, and to inspire not limit, and what my eyes and imagination can’t see at first can often see later. It dawned on me the other day, though, that sometimes the answer is just to write, and I thought about that recently as far as National Poetry Month, and how I’ve freed myself to write sometimes. And one source of inspiration is social media. Yes, some people posting on IG, Twitter and FB might produce written commentary showing grammar traditionally thought of as poor or underdeveloped, but you know what else we see, and that I do, on social media? I drown any voices that say I am or am not qualified to comment, and I stop looking for the perfect writing nook or perfect cup of tea. Instead, I just write, right there, wherever I am, under any post I want or as an original form of expression. And that’s the kind of freedom I want for all my students and writer-peers. So for today’s prompt, I mean it: Write here. Yes, I mean it, wherever you are, if you want, add a line to this communal poem, through the comments, and free yourself to just write. I have started here, and I will also add the lines as the first comment. As always, no pressure. Sunshine and laughter. - Reza Rites

Write here A calling card And pledge …

#3AmBlackPoetry #NationalPoetryMonth #RezaRites #3AmBlack #Poetry #AmbitiousBlackFeminist #photography #DigitalArt #collage #CollageArt #CarefreeBlackGirl #BlackGirlMagic #BlackWriters #AfroFuturism #BlackWomenWriters #BlackWritersMatter #WomenWritersOfIG https://www.instagram.com/p/COUGWpznXyo/?igshid=1a6ngfv3h0vnp

May we all find the people and passions that inspire zest and zeal inside - the focus of our 26th prompt for National Poetry Month, 2021. Sunshine and laughter. - Reza Rites

#3AmBlackPoetry #NationalPoetryMonth #RezaRites #3AmBlack #Poetry #AmbitiousBlackFeminist #photography #DigitalArt #collage #CollageArt #CarefreeBlackGirl #BlackGirlMagic #BlackWriters #AfroFuturism #BlackWomenWriters #BlackWritersMatter #WomenWritersOfIG https://www.instagram.com/p/COMQ5CknHUe/?igshid=83owpliryvhn

Yearning: it’s one of those words, and emotions, that comes up regularly, yet that bears many fruits in our day to day lives, and in our writing. Enjoy digging deeply, creatively, and sweetly (or assertively or mysteriously or forlornly) around the topic of something that keeps you yearning. Sunshine and laughter. - Reza Rites

#3AmBlackPoetry #NationalPoetryMonth #RezaRites #3AmBlack #Poetry #AmbitiousBlackFeminist #photography #DigitalArt #collage #CollageArt #CarefreeBlackGirl #BlackGirlMagic #BlackWriters #AfroFuturism #BlackWomenWriters #BlackWritersMatter #WomenWritersOfIG https://www.instagram.com/p/COJlF6ZHzjq/?igshid=kn8kb4nlt9nv

Imperfection is what separates us from the monsters that would have us sweat out perfection every time we breathed. I reject perfectionism philosophically, and I sleep with one eye open to track its movement when it enters my sphere. That is why I’m okay with having had to take a day off, yesterday, from building and designing a National Poetry Month prompt for me and those participating with the @3amblack community. I also had to forgive myself for messing up the alphabet. That’s right; I said messing up the alphabet. You see, this year, I decided to run through letters A-Z for inspiration for the daily prompts. While things ran smoothly for the most part, I did need a break, and it was taking that day that gave me just enough distance to see: I skipped right from V to X. So join me in banishing perfectionism, celebrating poetry, and pondering “Winsome Whirlwinds.” Sunshine and laughter. - Reza Rites

#3AmBlackPoetry #NationalPoetryMonth #RezaRites #3AmBlack #Poetry #AmbitiousBlackFeminist #photography #DigitalArt #collage #CollageArt #CarefreeBlackGirl #BlackGirlMagic #BlackWriters #AfroFuturism #BlackWomenWriters #BlackWritersMatter #WomenWritersOfIG https://www.instagram.com/p/COG7LvznWJn/?igshid=fmv25b2go368

Three great words for Day 23 of National Poetry Month - this time directly from the crew and hive-mind instead of just mine. Enjoy interacting and experimenting with xerosis / xebec / xenial.

#3AmBlackPoetry #NationalPoetryMonth #RezaRites #3AmBlack #Poetry #AmbitiousBlackFeminist #photography #DigitalArt #collage #CollageArt #CarefreeBlackGirl #BlackGirlMagic #BlackWriters #AfroFuturism #BlackWomenWriters #BlackWritersMatter #WomenWritersOfIG https://www.instagram.com/p/COCIvuEHG7G/?igshid=1jujd6h6f9ars

There are things that change us; vicissitudes, if you will. Will you? Happy National Poetry Month, Day 22: Veritable Vicissitude. Sunshine and laughter. - Reza Rites

#3AmBlackPoetry #NationalPoetryMonth #RezaRites #3AmBlack #Poetry #AmbitiousBlackFeminist #photography #DigitalArt #collage #CollageArt #CarefreeBlackGirl #BlackGirlMagic #BlackWriters #AfroFuturism #BlackWomenWriters #BlackWritersMatter #WomenWritersOfIG https://www.instagram.com/p/CN_XmG6nUUN/?igshid=bhplll1vtroe

It’s day 21, and I am absolutely inspired by the power of words. What happens when a word is added to a word? What happens when words are selected to describe feelings? And what happens when a group of individuals gathers to build community around words, stanzas and the written expression? These were some of the questions and sentiments on my mind as I chose and designed today’s National Poetry Month prompt card. Hope you’re enjoying the journey. Happy writing! - Reza Rites

#3AmBlackPoetry #NationalPoetryMonth #RezaRites #3AmBlack #Poetry #AmbitiousBlackFeminist #photography #DigitalArt #collage #CollageArt #CarefreeBlackGirl #BlackGirlMagic #BlackWriters #AfroFuturism #BlackWomenWriters #BlackWritersMatter #WomenWritersOfIG https://www.instagram.com/p/CN8neeZH1GN/?igshid=1e9n5gaa6ymuw

The day 420 brings many things to many people. To others, it represents “titular trepidation.” Enjoy our National Poetry Month day 20 prompt. - Reza Rites

#3AmBlackPoetry #NationalPoetryMonth #RezaRites #3AmBlack #Poetry #AmbitiousBlackFeminist #photography #DigitalArt #collage #CollageArt #CarefreeBlackGirl #BlackGirlMagic #BlackWriters #AfroFuturism #BlackWomenWriters #BlackWritersMatter #WomenWritersOfIG https://www.instagram.com/p/CN6RmF5HH3j/?igshid=1to7kx72r7spm

It got close, but we made it over here at 3 AM IS THE NEW BLACK. Welcome to our Day 19 National Poetry Month prompt: Steadfast / Stirrings / Stealthy / Stipulations. Enjoy! - Reza Rites

#3AmBlackPoetry #NationalPoetryMonth #RezaRites #3AmBlack #Poetry #AmbitiousBlackFeminist #photography #DigitalArt #collage #CollageArt #CarefreeBlackGirl #BlackGirlMagic #BlackWriters #AfroFuturism #BlackWomenWriters #BlackWritersMatter #WomenWritersOfIG https://www.instagram.com/p/CN3weERnma5/?igshid=1vbentaoswggo

It’s the vastness of the written and oral language for me. Day 18, National Poetry Month: Repugnant Repudiation, Reviling Rapscallion. Sunshine and laughter. - Reza Rites

#3AmBlackPoetry #NationalPoetryMonth #RezaRites #3AmBlack #Poetry #AmbitiousBlackFeminist #photography #DigitalArt #collage #CollageArt #CarefreeBlackGirl #BlackGirlMagic #BlackWriters #AfroFuturism #BlackWomenWriters #BlackWritersMatter #WomenWritersOfIG https://www.instagram.com/p/CN1QbConfMa/?igshid=1ws3gvucbww5y