Editors Note: GeoClan.com likes to bring you different poets so you can see the beauty of the poetic tongue! This time we bring you Sarkazym, a Philadelphia artist trying to make people move with her voice. If you got a talent for poetry and want to get on GeoClan.com please drops us a line. For now though here is Sarkazym...

GeoClan.com (GC): Hey Sarkazym! Thanks for interviewing with us! First off where you from and where you trying to go?

Sarkazym (SKM): I grew up in Southwest Philadelphia. I graduated from Overbrook where the only sport I played was Badminton and nobody knows that. Not even the people that went to Overbrook knows that. I am going back to school in March and I am working on getting enough poems for my book.

GC: How did you first become involved with poetry?  

SKM: I have been writing poetry since I was a kid. I used to take my brothers raps and turn them into poetry. But I started taking it way more serious the first time I saw Shihan of Def Poetry do "Iconoclast". After I saw him it was all over poetry was my new love. I realized I can't always express how I feel with words in a conversation but I could right a poem about it in a heart beat.

GC: What do you talk about in your work?

SKM: Mostly the sensual side of relationships. Not just sex but mostly the feeling you having leading up to it.

GC: Does being a woman of color affect your writings?

SKM: I don't thing it really does. I think mostly just being a woman period affects how I write. Sometimes people just don't expect ladies to say certain things. We all are human with the same needs and emotions so don't be surprised to hear it come from a woman and I am very much that.

GC: How does your writing of and your passion for poetry help in other aspects of your life?  

SKM: It helps me look at other people situations differently. Most of the time when my friends tell me about different problems or something that just make them happy, I listen more carefully cause it's a poem lurking some where behind every story.

GC: How often do you perform your poetry if at all and where have you performed?

SKM: Right now I perform once a month at the Bubble House. There are a group of poets there called the Collectives they do rounds of spoken word and then they open the mic. I recently recorded the intro for a very talented artist called Nino Breeze. The album is called the Hybrid. I also recorded the intro for one of his songs Love Letter.

GC: Do you have a special moment you are fond of?

SKM: This might sound kind of corny. I checked myspace a few days ago and Black Ice sent me a friend request. I was so hype. My girlfriends were looking at me like I was crazy saying "Who the hell is Black Ice!" They'll know soon enough. So will everybody else who is reading this saying "Who the hell is Black Ice?"

GC: How does it feel when people read or listen to your work?

SKM: Man, I can't even describe the rush I get when I finish a poem on stage or if some one comments about it period. Before I get on stage I am always nervous and I say to myself "What if they just clap when I am done" that might sound crazy but what I mean is I want to feel energy from the crowd in the beginning, middle and end. I don't want just a courtesy clap. It usually works out though.

GC: Who/What were your influences?  

SKM: Shihan the Poet, Black Ice, my current boy friend, my ex-boyfriends my future boyfriends (lol) just people in general but life is my biggest influence.

GC: Sarkazym is an interesting name how did you come to that?

SKM: Being sarcastic is probably one of my worst qualities. It's usually kind of irritating but it's cute when I do it. Also the first poem I performed called Superhero about my BF was kind of sarcastic so I chose to stick with the name. The first name I used a few years ago was Mystique but it's been used too many times before with different spellings.

GC: What do you think of arts in general and their importance in society and in particular public schools?

SKM: I think the arts play a huge role in our society. Sometimes you can't get people to pay attention unless they are entertained. Especially in our public school system, kids don't want to be bored to death with speeches about life they should be shown the world in a more imaginative way to hold they're attention.

GC: Why do you do poetry? Who are you trying to reach?

SKM: I write for myself because that's who I first like to impress. Next I write for people who believe in the idea of love, life, sex, freedom of speech, free to be you and who believes in fantasy. I write for any one else that wants to listen. I am trying to reach any one that went through or is going through the same things.

GC: Do you need to get in the mood of do you just pop a book out and write? Gimme your perfect setting for making your art flow!  

SKM: I just need one line, one moment, one thought.

Most of the time I don't try to write I might just hear some one talking and it might remind me of something next thing you know I'm writing a whole poem. If I do try to write I might write down my thoughts thinking I will go back over it and create a poem but most of the time it turns out that my thoughts are already poetry.

GC: : Are there any stereotypes/misconceptions of poets you'd like to comment on? What's bothering you right now in these world?

SKM: Well, everybody don't snap! Everybody don't where dreads or carry back packs, I don't have to downgrade men to be hot as a woman. I don't have to talk about oppression as a black woman.

GC: Any upcoming events to mention?

SKM: I will be doing the open mic at the Bubble House 3404 Sansom Street every first Saturday of the month. Feb. 4 th I will be performing at Paper Dollz Fashion Show under Black Light Entertainment. There will be other spoken word artist, hip hop, R&B and there will be art work displayed.   It will be at 12pm at the Rotunda 4014 Walnut Street. Also listen for me on the "Hybrid" Nino Breeze coming out in mid February 07'.

GC: What do you think of Uploading Change, GeoClan.com's slogan?

SKM: Change is definitely necessary for the world to evolve and getting the rest of the world involved is part of winning the battle. So fight on warriors!!!!!

Be sure to drop GeoClan a line at arts@geoclan.com