 photo by steed media service
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Spoken Word Artist
Professor, Temple University
K.D. Morris long ago immersed himself in the
deep, rich and invigorating world of verbal creativity. Harvesting the
English language has produced fruitful dividends beyond his wildest
expectations. The spoken word artist, photographer and promoter can be
seen showering his audience with optimal offerings every first Monday
in various venues around the city in the “For the Love of
Lyrics” poetry show. During the day, Morris teaches the
craftsmanship of poetry at Temple University.
“Some people think that you can’t
teach poetry, but you can. Because there is a right and wrong way to do
anything,” says Morris, who began poetry instruction at the
University of Pennsylvania. “If you don’t read the
directions, then how are you going to be able to mix the ingredients?
That’s all it is, [is] how to mix it all together, to keep it all
pure, to keep it all real.”
Other poetry
aficionados say that Morris has gotten so technically precise with his
word game, you half expect him to show up for class with a lab coat and
a clipboard. Through poetry, Morris has traveled to such places as the
University of Hawaii and the University of New Orleans to deliver
powerful prose to voracious audiences eager for mental nutrients and
enrichment.
“For me personally, I get joy from teaching it
just as much as I do from performing it because it is a give and take.
I learn from them. I get motivated from what they say,” Morris
shares. “Whatever I experience from the time I walk out of the
class to when I come back the next week, that [will be] the lesson. My
life experience becomes their lesson.” –james shropshire
