The Ninja Poet Podcast: Recent Episodes

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I met a talented musician recently and she plays in the background of these two pieces: "Inshallah," for my mom, and "Last Call," for my dad.

I have been focusing a lot of writing lately on my parents. I don't plan that. It just happens, as they say. That's the cool part about writing. You can just start with one line and then follow it and see where it goes. Both of these poems took me back to my parents, our greatest and most important influences, for better or for worth.

Metaphors be with you!

--SP

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In this spontaneous, all-new episode, Sam's insomnia propels him to read poems to strangers. In fact, he reads three, and they're all sort of spiritual in a this-guy-has-been-taking-yoga kind of way. He has also decided to stop speaking in the 3rd person. So he will stop now.

Hey, it's me, I'm the problem it's me. Dammit. I just meant to say hey, but ever since Taylor Swift took over my favorite NFL team, everything comes out Swifty first.

In short, my friends, ever since Write Night, I have been writing and feeling really good about writing as a practice and remembering how essential writing was for me to crawl out of some very dark holes (Don't be gross. This is a metaphor for depression, not a butthole joke, Ryan.)

Anyway, thanks for listening.

I hope you pick up a pen and use it. It really is a powerful weapon.

By the way, feel free to like, subscribe, share, delete, report, screenshot or defecate upon. Either way, I might do more. This was fun.

--Sam Pierstorff
@njapoet

P.s. The production value is weaksauce. It's just me talking, by the way, so don't be a Yelp Karen and write a bad review because you wanted sound effects. I ain't got time for that. It's 12:34am and I'm an English teacher, Muthah Fuggah!)

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My father died three years ago today (12/27/2017), so I decided to read this poem for him. It wasn't easy. You'll hear that in my voice.

Listen also to the piano, an original piece by Dr. Alejandro Sabre, director of the Piano and Music Theory programs at Modesto Junior College (The Harvard of Community Colleges).

Thanks for listening, and Metaphors Be With You!

Email: njapoet@gmail.comTikTok/Twitter/IG: @njapoet

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Ever see those guys at the gym who are trying to be helpful, so when they see someone lifting heavy weights, they dash over to help? Sometimes they're doing it for safety, sometimes to be flirty, and sometimes they really don't know what they're doing and it's a little gross. Anyway, this is a poem about bench pressing. 

Metaphors be with you!

Email: njapoet@gmail.com

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Growing up in America with a Muslim/Syrian mom made a few things quite challenging, but nothing was more difficult than the moment a girl called my house. Sorry, Mom. I know you don't like my impression of you. Shout out to all the kids of immigrant parents. The struggle is real.  #MetaphorsBeWithYou

Email: njapoet@gmail.com

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When he says, "It Just Happened," remember this poem and don't believe the lie. Nothing just happens. We often put ourselves in situations for bad things to happen and then we hope for forgiveness later. Don't do that and don't excuse that. Integrity matters, and so do you. 

Metaphors be with you!

Email: njapoet@gmail.com

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This poem is dedicated to Raveena, my most reluctant student poet. 

It's a meta-poem that explains how I write and teach poems, and I wrote this poem exactly (and surprisingly) the way I explain in this piece. As Robert Frost said, "No surprise for the writer, no surprise for the reader." Let your poems surprise you. Email: njapoet@gmail.com

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English teachers love a good essay, but we can't love them all.This poem reflects on one college professor's frustrations with a batch of not-so-great essays.  That teacher is me, but I bet a lot of teachers can relate. 

Metaphors be with you!

Email: njapoet@gmail.com
IG/TikTok/Twitter: @njapoet

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Remember when our parents told us never to talk to strangers? What if they were wrong?
I am two generations ahead of my students, but sometimes I feel like we were raised on different planets. This poem is a reflection on getting older, the 90s, old school romance, and why cell phones should never be allowed in the classroom. And speaking of talking to strangers, email me anytime at njapoet@gmail.com. Metaphors be with you. 

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Do you want to be married with children or does that sound awful?

I think my desire to be married and have children at an early age runs counter to today's wild dating culture and waning lack of interest in marriage. Maybe I am old school, maybe I am from a different generation, maybe I am just weird, but I actually wanted to get married and have kids. 

This poem is a response to everyone who has ever asked why I got married so young. I hope you enjoy it. Email me anytime at njapoet@gmail.com. Metaphors be with you. 

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Teaching your daughter how to ride a bike is hard. Learning to let go is harder. 
Here's another flash poetry podcast. This one made me sad.  TikTok/IG @njapoet

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Ever hear someone say that sticks and stones will break your bones but words will never hurt you? Well, I think that's bullshit. Here's a poem for my first flash podcast. One poem a week. Each episode under 5 minutes. TikTok/IG @njapoet

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