Last night,
I found something
I was not looking for;
a poetry reading
at a local coffee shop.
With the noises of blenders,
the chatter of patrons,
a courageous poet
stood and spoke aloud
her heart
into the nervous air.
I held her words
with my heart
so none would fall
alone or untraced.
Her jazz band accompaniment
was a no show and
the lights were
supposed to be turned down low
and the candle flames had to be
in our imaginations
but her words were all I needed
to ignite my mind's embrace.
Each poem resonated, deeply,
as a soul emergent
in pause and flowing
soundings, round,
full and crisply uttered,
constant with emotion;
a willing leaf
caught up
by the very breath of God.
~r.
All rights reserved, © September 6, 2006 R. Braley (astralshepherd)
Author notes
to Rhonda, a brilliant poet,
aka "flii" (eff, elle, double aye)
Written September 6th, 2006
In a list
What did you think
Comments
1 - 13 of 13
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i would love to be able to read in public but i would be too nervous, i have a couple of times in the past but i needed some booze beforehand
a lovely piece here, i would certainly order another cup of tea if i was sat in a cafe and someone started reciting some good poetry. spill ink and twist me into the crazy shape of love...
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The first and only time I read my poetry out loud in front of a crowd was so wonderful I never wanted to stop reading - going to do another one in a couple of months - what a high! Hope others feel this way when they hear poets reading too. Sentiments well expressed in these lines - easy to read and understand. After reading your author comments, I hope you get over that frightened feeling and just go for it!
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If only every poet that read at these readings, knew someone out in the audiece was just like you, then maybe the whole experience wouldn't be as scary.... you captured this moment beautifully, you have a wonderful heart you know, if there were only more people like you in my life
Karen -
Raven, i know you will stand upon a stage one day and your words will sing, slicing into the air, your dreams, your visions and the echoed wonder of dancing sounds playing gracefully upon the hearts, resonating within the souls who will be blessed to hear you speak aloud. I know you will and I dream that i am in the audience, a causal observer, who, hates coffee too, sipping a chai tea on ice in the dead of winter l will be there. Of all who wish they could hear you, I am one of, i am sure, so very many. Such elegance flows from you as you expressively wrap ribbons and bows about trees that wait for spring and the ending of all conflicts. I know you will stand, one day, where i will never be allowed, where there are no proud, empty speakers, I will dream that day for you and confess that when I heard Rhonda speak, I wondered if the one I really heard was you. ~r.
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Darling
This gave me an idea. A coffeeshop is starting right below my condo. They plan to stay open only to four or so but they will open later if needed. I own the bar on the other side but I could never get them to turn off the music to listen to prose. So, following your advice and method, I'll ask him to twice a week serve coffee for poets who will pay to speak into an open mike what their hearts desire and aspire. So for that alone and the fact I love everything about this. Applause. Smoosh
Janet
Edited on Sep 11, 6:35 p.m. because ''. -
It seems there are no more poetry readings going on around here in this boring so-called capital city I live in--but I've always wanted to read or perform spoken word in front of people. I just never felt courageous enough to do so because my poetry isn't really "Afrocentric" (considering the fact that I live in a place that's 71% black) and figured it wouldn't be well-received. However, I always felt that I would have a strong stage presence, so maybe one of these days, I will.
I don't know that I'll have any of the amenities your friend "flii" was supposed to have but never had to show up, but regardless of the strong stench of coffee (I hate coffee), the noiseless chatter in my head and the part expectant, part apprehensive looks from an audience I do not yet know, I aim to stand on that stage, speak--and be heard, dammit.
This poem is better than any poetry reading I could've ever attended.
Applause!
Many blessings,
Raven Aurora
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wonderful.. i would love to be at a poetry reading to hear your words read aloud.
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WHere is you book?I fanyone deserves recognition it is you. Richard my friend, you ARE poetry.
Sam
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Rene' - i've never had the ___s to be able to stand up and read my work to anyone except maby my wife and my therapist; i did read one poem at my wife’s mom's funeral and nearly passed out from fear and hyperventilation, i was drenched in terror and sweat, when i sat down my face was redder than a naked Englishman crossing a desert in July. The idea of reading aloud infrontofpeople scares a just a little less than sky diving without a parachute. This poetry reading was the first i’v ever been to, aside from a literature class in college where i heard poetry aloud for the first time – i had to read Chaucer, from The Canterbury Tales, The Friar's Prologue (In Middle English no less) out loud, in front of the whole class and when i was finished i grabbed the trash can and ran outside to puke my guts out – as a runner, i used to get nervous before races and throw up on the starting line, and no poetry was involved – it was just the idea of being in a crowd. I am better with groups, now, being in bible studies and sharing there, helped me get over much of the anxiety but i still feel a whole lot of it just contemplating the idea of reading something as personal as my poetry. The event that Rhonda (flii – pronounced “fly”) organized was low key, affirming and a wonderful experience. Her reading has passion, rhythm and brilliant enunciations – the poems she writes, the way she reads, reminds me so much of Maya Angelou. I am not sure what other readings are like, but going to this one really inspired me. Hope that helps. ~r.
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They have those poetry reading meetings here in St. Louis. I have often thought about attending one (most here are in bars) but I don't think I can stand in front of strangers and read my words. Maybe I should go one night if anything, to listen to other poets and get a feel for how they do there. Have you been to many meeting such as this? So Richard, tell me, tell me all about it and exactly how do hold the show. I mean what is the format as far as how many do you read? When? Were there many people there? Did you get up and read any of your poems? Wow! I even exhausted myself asking so many question.
Rene' -
well it takes a great poet to know a great poet and an even greayer person to appreciate the works of one in such a beautiful fashion.you made me feel as if i was there listening with you to the voice of this wonderful poetess.you are certainly most encouraging .
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I felt as if I was right there beside you, taking in the strong, powerful aroma of coffee and savoring the words as they flowed from the lips of this poet... so smooth and lively. You have filled my senses with this one Richard!
Thank you for sharing your joy.
♥ Touchof1der -
Your write actually places me in the moment of being there as if I breathed the dreamy words in of the poetess you speak of. It sounds wonderful and wish to one day be able to see one of these myself. This flowed so elegantly I couldn't just read without comment. Thank you for sharing your night with us and it's poets like you that keep me coming back to this site
Much love to you and yours~
~Joy
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