Poet gets Loyalist students pumped on poetry

by Meghan Balogh

Ritallin: Ottawa poet Greg Frankson recited poetry and gave a workshop to more than 30 public relations and radio students on Tuesday, January 20. Photo by Meghan BaloghGreg Frankson -- also known as “Ritallin” -- electrified Loyalist students with his powerful words on Jan. 20.
Over 30 students from the public relations and radio programs came together at noon to listen to the Ottawa-based poet recite his work and present a workshop in poetry writing.
“In public relations, as well as in radio, writing is really important,” says Kerry Ramsay, a professor in the post-graduate public relations program. “So we brought in Greg to get out of our rut of thinking in one particular way when it comes to writing.”
Frankson’s words spellbound his audience, and for 45 minutes, he shared his poetry with an attentive crowd.
“The way he can communicate a message through rhyme and with a hiphop feel, and to have such passion with it, is incredible,” says Kyle MacKenzie, one of the students who attended the workshop. “His intelligence definitely shows through, and it can be a very powerful tool for him.”
Frankson’s poetry reflects his passion for social awareness and change, with topics such as overcoming apathy in society (in Music Box) and the history of African Canadians (in Home Is Here).
After presenting his poetry, Frankson dove into a workshop that helped students find their own words and ideas and turn them into verse. Students brainstormed a list of individual words, and then, from six of those words worked to create several lines of poetry. At the end of the workshop they presented their compositions.
“It was a really eye-opening experience, especially for us as writers, to have a unique way to get your message across through poetry,” says MacKenzie.
The event took place on the same day as the inauguration of President Barack Obama.
“It was a beautiful quirk of fate that it turned out to be on this historic day,” says Ramsay.
The event was scheduled to begin at noon, but the group paused to watch the live inauguration coverage from Washington D.C.
Frankson’s thought-provoking words left the group with a lot to think about, and the tools and motivation to become catalysts for change through the written word.
Frankson currently resides in Ottawa. He is the creative director of Cytopoetics, has published a collection of poetry called Cerebral Stimulation, and is the co-founder of the Capital Poetry Coll