The Tattooed Poets Project: Tantra-zawadi

Today, as we enter our final week of this year's Tattooed Poets Project, we are honored to have <a href="http://www.tantra-zawadi.com/">Tantra-zawadi</a> as our tattooed poet.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge69v-Xx09sdV-sFvTNhEdzKkwujIZBWrgKgth5MeTZ6MM1bGeNyKX58rdGiYHeuGPtPVrLKxALkSo6NwSIteYnkZV7_scarLtMO4z3grcjLZdEChqRnvpYz7nyneMiO_3WKCsbWy7vTQ/s1600/28417_411014407680_566212680_4569382_540113_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge69v-Xx09sdV-sFvTNhEdzKkwujIZBWrgKgth5MeTZ6MM1bGeNyKX58rdGiYHeuGPtPVrLKxALkSo6NwSIteYnkZV7_scarLtMO4z3grcjLZdEChqRnvpYz7nyneMiO_3WKCsbWy7vTQ/s400/28417_411014407680_566212680_4569382_540113_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Arnold Browne</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Tantra shared the tattoo visible on her right arm:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYzIuIyXT934hgTr8nAFzkyE7RFuv_-JPsuyLiYkWC0PyUfU7qymKmposIYncBmneFTohnQlj1uGNGYuTUSrCbr_YEyMR-g8buB1OpxYFNJdqmCAx58mc9OfcTtssAP-V8ooid2rKFIR8/s1600/tantra+swan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYzIuIyXT934hgTr8nAFzkyE7RFuv_-JPsuyLiYkWC0PyUfU7qymKmposIYncBmneFTohnQlj1uGNGYuTUSrCbr_YEyMR-g8buB1OpxYFNJdqmCAx58mc9OfcTtssAP-V8ooid2rKFIR8/s400/tantra+swan.jpg" width="355" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal">This tattoo was done by Louis of <a href="http://www.thirdeyetattoo.com/">Third Eye Tattoo</a> in Brooklyn. Tantra explains:</div><blockquote><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"Swans usually mate for life…</i>Passion is a given in my work and how I love...The inspiration to become a part of something or someone for the duration of the journey is deeply beautiful.  Breathing through the ripples, the illusions, the wounds, the truth, the laughter, the healing and the magic of letting love…Sharing life IS the adventure! My poetry, like the mating of swans has been a part of my consciousness since I was a girl child.  It has grown with me and in me; writing candid love notes on my heart to the groove of house music in my soul!  I am life poetry."</div></blockquote><br /><div class="MsoNormal">Tantra also shared this tattoo:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGBZ57cO7b8Ie6dMR4eXt2MZl_tvZGv1anRQZ8ltYXFOaKcLmj1dcjPUHeZJ2n6oEJQRMs8pCubXeDDIhdSpY1zEXWLm6w-UJA9Lqnwuehvpbeil3cPO-jDDi1qtxhlC2GpnjIEurUpc/s1600/tantratat1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGBZ57cO7b8Ie6dMR4eXt2MZl_tvZGv1anRQZ8ltYXFOaKcLmj1dcjPUHeZJ2n6oEJQRMs8pCubXeDDIhdSpY1zEXWLm6w-UJA9Lqnwuehvpbeil3cPO-jDDi1qtxhlC2GpnjIEurUpc/s400/tantratat1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Arnold Browne</td></tr></tbody></table><br />On her left shoulder is the line "We make love in the way of the spirit," from her poem "Third Eye Kisses" (<a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0984184465/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bill03-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399349&creativeASIN=0984184465%22%3EGathered%20at%20Her%20Sky:%20Life%20Poems%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=&l=as2&o=1&a=0984184465&camp=217145&creative=399349%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20%21important;%20margin:0px%20%21important;%22%20/%3E">Gathered at Her Sky</a> - <a href="http://poetswearprada.blogspot.com/">Poets Wear Prada</a> Publishing 2010).</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>Tantra shared this poem with us:<br /><blockquote><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Poem for </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Haiti</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Toe nails painted <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">red</span></b><br />Fingernails and<br />Lips thus stained</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />I look at her cleanly<br />Parted scalp <br />Plaited locks of wisdom </div><div class="MsoNormal">With lavender ribbons</div><div class="MsoNormal">Gathered at her sky</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Vibrant energy skirted and</div><div class="MsoNormal">Pleated from waist to ankle</div><div class="MsoNormal">With her hands delicately</div><div class="MsoNormal">Placed upon her chest</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">One on top of the other <br />Motionless</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i>She was gentle <br /><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(I think) </i>Most likely<br />Waiting for her groom<br />for she was a good girl<br />before she was swallowed<br /><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></div><div class="MsoNormal">They lay in piles<br />the brown people tinged gray<br />and I wonder<br />if the one with the chocolate hand<br />was her beloved</div><div class="MsoNormal">Respectfully waiting for his bride<br /><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></div><div class="MsoNormal">He dreamed of her too<br />(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I think)<br />b</i>efore he was swallowed</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Butthereweresomany</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Thereweresomany</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Thereweresomany</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Fairies, maidens<br />Princes, poison apples<br />and ogres in the agony of<br />Hushed lullabies and wailing<br />Absent walls or petitions</div><div class="MsoNormal">Only tears of freedom</div><div class="MsoNormal">Gushing in perfect French <br />pooling into mud cakes and spirits<br />that rise from their dust</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"></div><blockquote><div class="MsoNormal"><i>Excerpt from <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0984184465/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bill03-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399349&creativeASIN=0984184465%22%3EGathered%20at%20Her%20Sky:%20Life%20Poems%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=&l=as2&o=1&a=0984184465&camp=217145&creative=399349%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20%21important;%20margin:0px%20%21important;%22%20/%3E">Gathered at Her Sky</a> - <a href="http://poetswearprada.blogspot.com/">Poets Wear Prada</a> Publishing 2010</i></div></blockquote><blockquote><div class="MsoNormal"></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: center;">~ ~ ~ </div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Tantra-zawadi best describes her work "by the love that I make through my art to the vision of the unseen reality."  Soulful and sublime, her poetry explores love in all its forms; from the rush of the first kiss to the bittersweet.  Born in Brooklyn, New York, as a performance poet and published author, Tantra uses her voice to support the rights of women to exist, think and create through art.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Tantra has performed to standing-room audiences at venues as far away as South Africa, London, Germany and Toronto as well as venues closer to home in the tri-state area.  She has performed original works in the off-Broadway productions of <a href="http://blackartinamerica.com/video/girl-a-choreospective">Girl – A Choreospective</a>, A Night of Three God/desses: Soldier Blues and Powerful Women, An Evolution in Reinvention, the Numeral Three, Leaving My Apartment and Other Urban Adventures and projects with the <a href="http://www.myspace.com/vonduvoisdancecollective">vonduvoisdancecollective</a>. Tantra's recent appearances include the <a href="http://www.nypl.org/locations/lpa">New York Public Library of Performance Arts at Lincoln Center</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badilisha_Poetry_X-Change">Badilisha Poetry X-Change Festival</a> in Cape Town, South Africa and the <a href="http://www.meetup.com/poetry-517/">Montserrat Poetry Festival</a> in Missouri.  Tantra is a 2010 Pushcart Prize Nominee and a recipient of the Kings County District Attorney's Office Women’s History Month Award for her artistic contributions to the borough of Brooklyn. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdLuqItAe4cdsTW2HlJG7ASNkHaUM-1YzsCMbmzwL-AbQHw5S9MR99HXQLQT7QA6XKVA62x_1uTKE8F-2o388KiAm_2ZWoaNBA5rEPsXSMnf6MURIa7lB0DVWxMrx2hZsqyvTJd0Evhhk/s1600/320.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdLuqItAe4cdsTW2HlJG7ASNkHaUM-1YzsCMbmzwL-AbQHw5S9MR99HXQLQT7QA6XKVA62x_1uTKE8F-2o388KiAm_2ZWoaNBA5rEPsXSMnf6MURIa7lB0DVWxMrx2hZsqyvTJd0Evhhk/s1600/320.jpeg" /></a></div><br />Tantra’s latest release, “<a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0984184465/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bill03-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399349&creativeASIN=0984184465%22%3EGathered%20at%20Her%20Sky:%20Life%20Poems%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=bill03-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0984184465&camp=217145&creative=399349%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20%21important;%20margin:0px%20%21important;%22%20/%3E"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gathered at Her Sky</i></a>” from Poets Wear Prada Publishing, is available at Amazon and <a href="http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/gathered-at-her-sky/11040890">LULU.com</a> (June 2010).  Tantra, a mentor for <a href="http://girlchildnetworkworldwide.org/">Girl-Child Network Worldwide</a> (GCN), will donate partial proceeds from <i>Gathered at Her Sky</i> to GCN to provide education, personal items and empowerment for girls in Zimbabwe.  Tantra is also the author of “<a href="http://chumaspiritmagazine.typepad.com/chuma_spirit_ebooks/2008/11/alifepoeminprogress.html">alifepoeminprogress</a>” by <a href="http://chumaspiritmagazine.typepad.com/chuma_spirit_ebooks/">Chuma Spirit Books</a>, and her poetry was featured in <a href="http://www.essence.com/">Essence Magazine</a> and in spoken word publications such as Redeye, <a href="http://www.spokenvizions.com/">Spoken Vizions</a>, <a href="http://defpoetryjam.com/">defpoetryjam.com</a>, Platinum Poets, Sunpiper Press, Souled Up and <a href="http://poetswearprada.com/">poetswearprada.com</a>.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Tantra-zawadi is the host of her own spoken word series, WORDSPACE, and has made several appearances on cable television, local and satellite radio shows. Known for being on the cutting edge as an artist and for speaking out about issues such as HIV and AIDS awareness, Tantra’s poem and video “<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPg5CEBJQwE">Scarlet Waters</a>,” was featured on the Product(RED) video wall created by U2’s Bono and Bobby Shriver, to raise awareness for HIV/AIDS in Africa.  Her short documentary, “<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lCwzCt94DU">A Silent Genocide ~ A Brief Insight into HIV/AIDS</a>” edited by <a href="http://www.myspace.com/olivercovrett">Oliver Covrett</a>, takes another look at the personal impact of this disease.   Tantra also participated in a public service announcement for <a href="http://www.betah.com/">BETAH Associates</a> produced by Marc Herbert Productions aimed at promoting HIV/AIDS awareness.  Tantra’s videos and films may be viewed on-line @ <a href="http://www.youtube.com/tantrazawadi">www.youtube.com/tantrazawadi</a>.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Tantra-zawadi is a member of Collective Spirits and their “<a href="http://www.traxsource.com/index.php?act=show&fc=tpage&cr=titles&cv=20625">Love Planet</a>” EP produced by Jonny Montana and Neil Maclean (<a href="http://www.myspace.com/camio_recordings">Camio Recordings</a>), showcases Bennett Holland on keys, Tantra on poem and Dana Byrd on vocals (<a href="http://www.traxsource.com/index.php?act=show&fc=tpage&cr=titles&cv=20625">traxsource.com</a>).  Tantra is also a contributing artist on poetry compilations such as the award winning “<a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/mwalim">Liberation Sessions: Soul of the City CD</a>” by Mwalim (<a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/mwalim">cdbaby.com</a>), “<a href="http://www.traxsource.com/index.php?act=show&fc=tpage&cr=titles&cv=59357">Summerbreeze EP</a>” by Dolls Combers (<a href="http://www.traxsource.com/index.php?act=show&fc=tpage&cr=titles&cv=59357">traxsource.com</a>), “<a href="http://www.poeticstimulus.com/">Poetic Stimulus</a>” by Atlanta Red (<a href="http://www.poeticstimulus.com/">poeticstimulus.com</a>), “<a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/FloydBoykinJr">EARTHOLOGY</a>” by Floyd Boykin, Jr., poet/founder of Spoken Vizions Magazine (<span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/FloydBoykinJr"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">cdbaby.com</span></a></span>), “<a href="http://www.cendrinemarrouat.com/cendrine-store/rizen/">Rizen</a>” by Cendrine Marrouat, recordings with world renowned DJ Groove Assassin on “<a href="http://www.traxsource.com/index.php?act=show&fc=tpage&cr=titles&cv=75858">Love Seeker</a>” (GKF Records), Soul Agenda’s “<a href="http://www.traxsource.com/index.php?act=show&fc=tpage&cr=titles&cv=72854">Don’t Let It Go</a>,” Nastee Nev’s “<a href="http://www.traxsource.com/index.php?act=show&fc=tpage&cr=titles&cv=64533&alias=upfront">Secrets of Life</a>” and “<a href="http://www.traxsource.com/index.php?act=show&fc=tpage&cr=titles&cv=55106">Giant Steps – Back From Miami</a>” with Dana Byrd on vocals for Do It Now Recordings - all available at <a href="http://www.traxsource.com/">traxsource.com</a>.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Follow Tantra-zawadi Online</u></b><u>:</u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #003300;"><a href="http://www.tantra-zawadi.com/"><span style="color: #003300; text-decoration: none;">www.tantra-zawadi.com</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #003300;"><a href="http://www.pw.org/content/tantra_zawadi"><span style="color: #003300; text-decoration: none;">http://www.pw.org/content/tantra_zawadi</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/tantra.zawadi">www.facebook.com/tantra.zawadi</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.myspace.com/tantrais">www.myspace.com/tantrais</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.blackartinamerica.com/profile/Tantrazawadi"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">www.blackartinamerica.com/profile/Tantrazawadi</span></a></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~ ~ ~</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Thanks to Tantra-zawadi for sharing her tattoos and poetry with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This entry is ©2011 Tattoosday. The poem is reprinted here with the permission of the author.<br /><br />If you are reading this on another web site other than Tattoosday, without attribution, please note that it has been copied without the author's permission and is in violation of copyright laws. Please feel free to visit </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/</a> and read our original content. Please let me know if you saw this elsewhere so I contact the webmaster of the offending site and advise them of this violation in their Terms of Use Agreement.</span></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>

The Tattooed Poets Project: Tantra-zawadi

Today, as we enter our final week of this year's Tattooed Poets Project, we are honored to have Tantra-zawadi as our tattooed poet. Pho...

Read more »