Def Poets Society: Richmond poetry scene’s VCU hub

Zaynah Akeel

Staff Writer

Fans and writers of poetry might have noticed a lack of outlets for their work and passion on the VCU campus, unless they have happened upon the Def Poets Society. Sarah Rodriguez and Brandon Basile co-founded Def Poets after trying to find an outlet for their own love of poetry. Inspired by the HBO series Def Poetry, which aired from 2002 to 2008 and was hosted by Mos Def, Def poetry “was created to facilitate and build a poetry community among students,” says Basile, who is now acting president of the group.

Def (short for “definitive”) Poetry has been heavily linked with the poetry slam movement in which performance and delivery of poems are key. While the performance aspect is significant, Def Poets focuses on much more than this. The group is open to those who write and perform poetry, as well as those who simply have found a poem that they liked and want to share it with others. Although much of the group graduated last semester, Basile says that “it seems like it’s going to be a good year [for attendance].” The group held an interest meeting Wednesday, Sep 14 in the Commons and has regular meetings on the first and third Wednesday of each month.

The group has been a large part of the local poetry scene, teaming up with other groups to hold two charity events in the past called Unity Poetic. Last year, Unity Poetic was held in the Commons, and was headlined by popular def poet Gemineye. Last semester they held an event called “Tempted Tongues,” which was in essence an erotica open mic event; as Basile put it, “everybody loves sex.”

Next semester, Def Poets hopes to combine these experiences in a charity erotic open mic night, tentatively titled “Pussy Appreciation Day” – with all proceeds going to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. For this semester, the group plans to focus on workshops for students’ poetry, and on producing poetry collections in print or on CD.

Def Poets invites students to their weekly meetings to get feedback on works in progress, voice their finished work or find their way into the Richmond poetry arena – or to put it in the words of the Def Poets Society chant, to “Knock ‘em down, soak ‘em up!”

For more information on meeting times and locations, check out Def Poets Society’s Facebook page (search “Def Poets Society VCU”) or their Twitter (“VCUDPS”).