Sang my poems on city streets.
A friend told me about a Café in Greenwich Village
If I got there by 8 and signed a list
I could get a ‘slot’ to perform on stage.
Stage, lights, a mic, do I have the guts?
I’ll sit here, smoke, read my tunes, and drink coffee;
maybe by the time I get up the place will clear out a bit.
One a.m., still a long way down the list.
Two, I’m getting sleepy;
people are looking at me and wondering.
Three, that’s a cute guy up there, really talented.
Four, lots of really good performers here,
do I really want to do this?
Five, that guy keeps looking over here and smiling.
Five thirty, I’m up…..here goes
I get three songs? OK….
Hi…never sang with a mic before,
it’s a little scary; I know it’ll pick up all my flaws,
it’s my first time on a stage, be easy with me.
Sang a Langston Hughes poem I put to music
‘Listen Here Joe’, about a soldier in Nam
It was well received.
I sang two originals of mine.
It was 1969.
Odetta was in the audience.
She told me I’d nothing to apologize for.
She gave me a ten dollar tip.
That’d help me to get back to New Jersey.
Made new friends that night.
Thirty nine years ago and it’s like yesterday in my mind.
Words: K.Botka
10/14/08
‘
Author notes
This was my first experience singing in a 'club' atmosphere in NYC & one I'll not forget!
A contest entry
- Are you a sidewalk poet? by seven.
1221 points, ended October 15, 2008, 12 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
How'm I doin'?
Comments
1 - 12 of 12
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Ahhh... I lose to a worthy opponent!
Congrats!
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This is very enjoyable - great scene/stage setting and boy, you were a trooper to stick it out til the wee hours like that and take your shot!
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Thanks!
I always loved to write & sing. I performed my first song to my parents on the Jamaica Bay in NY [I was 2!] when we were on a friends boat in a squall, clinging to the deck with life preservers on & under a tarp! I sang 'Fernando's Hideaway'. I can still remember my parents quizzical faces. They looked at each other probably thinking 'what kind of child is this'? I started writing at the age of 7 when I found 'On Walden's Pond' tucked away at the bottom of a closet & joyfully read Thoreau write about things I was thinking! I thought that was so wonderful! Here I am now writing poetry & posting my lyrics [I'm primarily a singer/songwriter] & loving every moment of it. I haven't written many 'story poems' but when I saw this contest I just had to share my experience. Glad you could enjoy!
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Impressed.
Ah. I loved this. Your style reminded me of Kerouac in some places--which is a definite plus. Your talented in narrative poetry, to be sure. I love the details--yes, I think it's the details that kept me dangling by every word. I'm always impressed by people with the skills to write in plain language and get such a strong slew of emotions through to readers. It makes my work seem overdone and frivolous. Camus is another genius in that aspect. Aaaand I'm rambling so I'll stop. Brilliant work, my friend.
Take care,
Kelsey-Jo
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Thank you!
What a joy to find that I can share my life in a way people can identify with & appreciate! I didn't even know until recently that 'prosaic story poems' were a 'form'! I've always been very expressive, and this was a memorable event, so it flowed easily! Thanks for your kind words.
So wonderful to share my life with those who can find excitement & joy in it as well! 
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I felt the fear and the excitement. It's a good story very well written.
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Very, very good
Fit in, fell in and lived it through your words. Well done.
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True stories...
are always easy to write! It was a lasting memory & one that's easy for me to relate as I've always been very expressive! Thanks for reading & your kind comment!
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that gave me goosebumps reading that. very befitting. Top shelf.
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I had goosbumps that night!
The story is true to the core & a memorable one for me & it's so joyous that I can share it in a way that readers can enjoy. If I ever get to write my 'Autobiography' I hope I'll have the same success!
Thanks for reading & your kind comment.
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you met odetta? seriously? hot damn!
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I met Odetta twice!
That first time I met Odetta the only thing I could identify with was her name. I remember hearing about her & her name was unusual so it stuck in my mind. About 20 years ago there was a 'tribute' of sorts for the 'Folk Music Scene' of the 60's in Central Park at the Goldman Bandstand & Odetta performed. I got to thank her for that time when she encouraged me so many years earlier! How time flies!
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