Story by Noelia de la Cruz; Photo by Rae Angrand

On November 11, members of Verbal Blend hopped onto the 6:33pm Connective Corridor bus at College Place. With four poets present, Syracuse University’s only spoken-word poetry program surprised the 15 riders who were taking the free bus into the city. 

They likely thought they were in for a quiet ride downtown. Certainly, they didn’t know that Robbi Farschman, director of the Connective Corridor, had selected that night for a soft launch of the “In Motion” series. Collaborating with Cedric Bolton, program coordinator for the Office of Multicultural Affairs, “Poetry In Motion” became the first step towards increasing awareness of both Verbal Blend and the Connective Corridor. 

“The Connective Corridor is not a bus,” Farschman explains to the crowd. “It’s a movement. It’s about trying to elevate arts and culture in the community. Instead of having people come to art, art can be accessed in other ways.” As people travel to their destinations on the Corridor, they can participate in art series similar to those found in larger cities – in addition to poetry, this will eventually include music and drama.

Alex Santana, a senior who was one of the first students to join the program, began the 17-minute bus ride with his poem “Words of a Poet, vs. 2.” Fellow members Michelle Tarshus, Alecia Gordon, and Ruthnie (Rae) Angrand followed with poems that covered topics ranging from life to love to oppression. Bolton also performed two poems of his own.

“The great thing about being a part of Verbal Blend is, as a graduate student, I would otherwise never have interacted with the undergraduate population,” Angrand reveals. “It’s really cool to see students from different backgrounds and majors bringing a [new] flavor to poetry.”

On this particular night, a bus was transformed into a moving room: headphones came off, cells were stowed in pockets, and the riders-turned-audience-members directed their attention to the center of the bus where the poets stood. Not only were poets praised with applause, new riders were greeted with equal enthusiasm. “Magical” was the word Farschman used to describe the evening.

Through this type of engagement, Verbal Blend and “In Motion” hope to start conversations and begin new friendships. “Poetry is a chain reaction,” shares Tarshus, resident advisor of the poetry learning community on campus. “It starts out with one person,” she explains, “who loves what they see, tells a friend, and then that friend tells someone else. It’s a continuous chain reaction, and I’ve been infected by the word.”

Emily Dunckle, a sophomore broadcast journalism major and passenger, liked the experience. “I was really impressed,” she says. “I would definitely go to their performances again.”

Because of its success, “Poetry In Motion” will become part of the Connective Corridor arts programming. Supporters and devotees will soon be able to find “In Motion” series listed on the Corridor website at www.connectivecorridor.com. You can also experience Verbal Blend through poetry slams and open mic nights. To catch up with them, visit http://multicultural.syr.edu/home.php?inc=programs&mode=detail&id=16