Bassey Ikpi is a Nigerian born poet/writer who was a featured cast member of the National Touring Company of the Tony Award winning Broadway show, Russell Simmon's Def Poetry Jam. Not a stranger to the stage, her poetry has also opened shows by Grammy Award winning artists, has earned her an appearance on the NAACP Image Awards as part of a tribute to Venus and Serena Williams, and has positioned her as a featured performer for Johannesburg, South Africa's annual arts festival, Joburg Arts Alive. Most recently, Bassey headlined the Three Rivers Arts Festival; and as it relates to media, she has graced the pages of such notable publications as Nylon, Marie Claire, Glamour and Bust.
With social commentary being a focus of her work, Bassey recorded an original poem for the Kaiser Foundation’s, HIV/AIDS campaign, Knowing Is Beautiful. She works as a freelance writer for several social media outlets on the topic of mental health, and is currently an Artist-In-Residence at several Philadelphia area schools. In addition to her writing, this past summer Bassey embarked on a 3 city tour, appropriately called “Basseyworld Live”, which infused poetry and interactive panel discussions on everything from politics to pop culture - with a huge emphasis on mental health issues. Not only did she headline each show, but she also moderated the panel discussions, which included special invited guests from various industries such as art, film and journalism.
Bassey Ikpi: 'I Want To Kiss You'
I want to kiss you.
shadow your jaw like against touch.
touch you scent of musk. saltwater and sea foam clean.
want to kiss you near God.
Amongst strangers I dare either to stop me.
Keep me. Want to kiss you bitter. Tired of waiting,
wondering. Want to kiss you empty. Steady as forever.
Small as favor.
Maybe kiss you curve where shoulder meets neck or
silk of throat. Perhaps rough of chin, inside elbows,
wrists, then rest, smooth of chest. Back, hip to hip.
Dip of belly. Want to hold you and twine like vows.
Palm against palm. Fingers laced and waiting.
I want to kiss you unbroken,
before too many hearts snap like dried and dead things.
This longing, like fire, like hunger,
like nothing before or since.
Just one,
small,
solitary kiss.
No questions.
No worries.
No words. J
ust a kiss. Quiet.
Quick. Subtle. Silent.
It'll probably speak volumes
shadow your jaw like against touch.
touch you scent of musk. saltwater and sea foam clean.
want to kiss you near God.
Amongst strangers I dare either to stop me.
Keep me. Want to kiss you bitter. Tired of waiting,
wondering. Want to kiss you empty. Steady as forever.
Small as favor.
Maybe kiss you curve where shoulder meets neck or
silk of throat. Perhaps rough of chin, inside elbows,
wrists, then rest, smooth of chest. Back, hip to hip.
Dip of belly. Want to hold you and twine like vows.
Palm against palm. Fingers laced and waiting.
I want to kiss you unbroken,
before too many hearts snap like dried and dead things.
This longing, like fire, like hunger,
like nothing before or since.
Just one,
small,
solitary kiss.
No questions.
No worries.
No words. J
ust a kiss. Quiet.
Quick. Subtle. Silent.
It'll probably speak volumes
Source: 'The Huffington Post'
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