Poet Troupe inspires young writers
Students enjoy an encouraging and informative night of poetry
Angelina Dinsmore / Asst. A&C Editor / The USD Vista
While standing in the front of USD’s Warren Auditorium, poet Quincy Troupe told his audience that he never thought he would become a poet. Troupe kicked off Black History Month on Tuesday, Feb. 5 by sharing his story with about 50 students and faculty. Before beginning his writing career, Troupe left his hometown of St. Louis, Mo. to attend Grambling State University on a basketball scholarship. He believed he had the potential to go professional, had he not been injured. At the time, Troupe was devastated, but now says his injury was the best thing that could’ve happened to him. Had it not been for his injury, Troupe would have never discovered his passion for writing.
Troupe laced his presentation with stories of inspirational people he’d met, readings of his work, and his humor. Troupe thought that, in order to be a poet, he had to be “heavy” and “deep.” However, he was able to combine his passion for both writing and sports in his poem, “A Poem for Magic.” Dedicated to the Los Angeles Lakers’ basketball legend, Magic Johnson, the poem perfectly captured the spirit of basketball. Troupe read with such passion and energy, gracing the audience with a play-by-play experience of Magic Johnson’s skills on the court.
Troupe was mentored by American jazz musician, Miles Davis. He went on to write Davis’ autobiography in 1989, and the book, “Miles and Me” in 2000. Troupe also contributed to the screenplay for the major motion picture, “Miles and Me,” which will be released this year. Troupe cherished his friendship with Davis, and explained how he admired his ability to be constantly changing and creative. Davis showed Troupe how to hear everyday sounds as rhythm and music.
Troupe told the audience that he is always trying to change and evolve. He wants to create American poetry forms and is particularly influenced by rap music. He believes rap illustrates the way people naturally put words together. When walking the streets of New York City, his hometown, Troupe likes to pay close attention to what people say, and how they say it. The English sonnet, for example, is too limiting to him. He quoted renowned author James Baldwin: “You write the sentence like you speak it.” Troupe had the honor of conducting Baldwin’s last interview before his death in 1987. Baldwin taught Troupe to be fearless in his work as a writer.
Troupe currently lives in Harlem, N.Y., where he spends 4-6 hours writing in his silent study every day. He writes until he gets something together. He is currently working on a novel, “The Legacy of Charlie Footman,” a memoir “The Accordion Years,” and an additional book of non-fiction prose. Troupe explained that he has been writing these for 20 years, and tries to avoid poetry until he’s finished. In the best way, poetry overwhelms him, and he can get easily carried away by poetry, so currently, the writing of the longer works must take precedence.
Junior Gabe Cruz, who attended Troupe’s talk for his class, “Ways of Seeing: Black Eyes on the United States,” commented on the talk.
“I’m sure he was a great athlete, he is a great writer, and he could’ve made a great comedian,” Cruz said.
Cruz chose to attend the talk because his professor, Carlton Floyd, Ph.D., is a friend of Troupe’s and promoted it to his students. The majority of Floyd’s students went and were inspired by what Troupe had to say.
“You can write ‘till you’re 90,” Troupe said as he gave advice to young writers.
He advised writers to simply “write and get better at writing” in order to get their voice out there. Troupe closed with two poems from his book, “Seduction:” “What if Truth Can’t Seduce” and “Double Rainbow.” His ability to eloquently string words together sent his audience off with a true sense of appreciation for Troupe’s poetry.
Sophomore Jake Jaeger, who went for his Critical Reading class, commented on the event.
“I really liked how fearless Troupe was to share his works with complete strangers,” Jaeger said.
Troupe’s openness and witty humor made the event enjoyable for students and faculty alike. With Troupe’s memorable talk, Black History Month at USD has successfully begun.
A Double Rainbow
for Stanley Cohen
a double rainbow arches over copake, new york
Anchors its tails in green hills rolling across
my shocked eyeballs, in front of a friend’s stately
house,
white clouds sailed slowly through a blue sky laid out
Like a dinner tablecloth of the same color without
food,
dark flocks of cruising caw-cawing birds flew clean
as razor blades slicing through my imagination
releasing typescript with periods black as crows
ending sentences, words stacked in lines-jagged,
or straight-lanced across white pages, beckoning me,
as geese with tiny arrowheads craning on necks
strained as they flew through buffet waves of winds
& eye was always renewed viewing this spectacle
watching
people’s heads swiveling on necks like spinning tops
but was confused watching flames torch dreams
in a swirling inferno–a polysyllabic hurricane packed
with rich hues–kaleidoscopic–& people cheered
eye have always clued into bold whirling colors in