I am on a mission to get myself up on a stage at least once a week. I can go to different ones each time as long as I go to one and read something. Here's is why:
1) Writers aren't meant to live in caves anymore, if we were all like Hemingway, well we'd probably all be dead already. (And we wouldn't necessarily know each other at all... one exception of something with a Hemingway complex is Bukowski but that's a different story.)
2) Speak not only makes you comfortable with the world around you, but helps you to relate to it... writers live though experience. If I stay behind and cower in fear all the time, how can I ever actually learn anything?
3) Hearing amazing poets read really help inspire me/others/etc.
I will report back on some of my Open Mic experiences, but for now I hope that you'll take the time to get inspired by the powerful minds around you.
Here are some great poets reading at The Bowery in NYC:
ADA LIMON: A poet who's soothing voice is enough to pull me in a multitude of directions, to escape the confines of building and explore my bond with the natural world.
TALOR MALI: An incredible poet and teacher who speaks with so much truth and humor that I am hoping one day I get to meet him and that being in the vicinity of him and some of his genius will transfer to me.
SARAH KAY: An incredible speaker who also acts as an activist with her brother advocating for the importance of spoken work poetry.
OMAR HOLMON: The speaks simply and with beautiful words. I have just started noticing Omar, and I have to say I am inspired and enlightened by is ordinary magic.
ANDREA GIBSON: An incredible and powerful human being, I am bias and have met her twice at two different readings. I am so inspired for her words no matter how personal or political they end up being.
...I know I am not any of these poets, but I know that these poets, make me strong enough to believe that I will be okay when I get up on a stage like that to speak my mind.
Hope these poets inspire you!
Best,
Sam
No comments:
Post a Comment