I Am So Difficult

I wasn't really sure what I would read on Friday night. I had some favorite poems cued up. But I didn't know what my co-performer was going to pull out of his poetry hat. So I kept it open. This made me nervous as a strategy, but ended up working fine. Sometimes it is best to trust that creativity has a life of its own and will lead you in its way.

Anyway, after my fellow poet shared his final poem and nodded to signal we were done, I just knew I had to have the last word with this one. I'm thinking that when he (and the audience) laughed, I was forgiven for talking back one last time.

Woman

I am so difficult,
the way a jar of honey
is difficult.

All that sweetness
gets stuck under the rim,
makes your hands

shake

they have to work
so hard.


Honey photo by L.L. Barkat. This poem is in honor of One Shot Wednesday. It is also for Glynn's very cool Random Acts of Poetry. I don't know, Glynn, what poem do you think I'm from? Is this one kind of Langston Hughes?

On, In and Around Mondays: City of Words

"What the hell is going on here?"

Those are not my words. They are painted on the window of the Bowery Poetry Club. And somehow make me smile.

Imagine, a club in New York City that makes its way by sharing words. Verses spoken, barely breathed, or belted out. Verses sung. Poetry in notes, drum beats, guitar strums, the ache of voices rising, falling.

On Friday night, I became part of "what is going on here." I tried to give poetic voice to grief, love, beauty, laughter. Maxidus answered me with his own poems. We built a rhythm of words. Me, then him. Me, then him. A conversation in verse.

As we came to our last poems, musicians moved to their places one by one, and added their sound to our words. Cello, drums, bass. It felt deep, moving, inexplicably spiritual. We finished speaking. Crossed paths with singers. And a different kind of poetry took our place...



When I wasn't reading poetry, I was looking at walls. Walls of paper sculpture. Walls of mirror, artful graffiti. All of part of "what is going on here."



In the bathroom, I found a self-portrait opportunity. A way to merge with the walls, and this city of words.



Who made this night possible? The Village Church. And a city where a Club has fashioned walls to embrace words.



Bowery Poetry Club photos, by L.L. Barkat.

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On, In and Around Mondays (which partly means you can post any day and still add a link) is an invitation to write from where you are. Tell us what is on, in, around (over, under, near, by...) you. Feel free to write any which way... compose a tight poem or just ramble for a few paragraphs. But we should feel a sense of place.

Would you like to try? Write something 'in place' and add your link below. If you could kindly link back here when you post, it will create a central meeting place. :)

Catch it Live Streamed from NYC

Tonight I'm reading poetry at the Bowery Poetry Club in New York City. Jason Harrod, Brooke Campbell, and Maxidus will also be performing.

Jazz, blues, folk, poetry.

Catch it online, live streamed at 7 pm, from the Bowery Poetry Club site.

Reading with Brooke Campbell

What are you doing on January 29, 2010? If you like poetry and folk/blues/jazz, maybe you'd like to join us in New York City, from 7-9 pm at the IAM Space, 38 West 39th Street, 3rd Floor. No worries if you can't come in person. It's going to be live-streamed. (I hear Kelly might even bring her baby, in the comfort of her own home!).

And hey, you could tweet about it if you want, using the hashtag #LLBrooke (then I could see what kind of party you had during the party. :) Let me know ahead of time if you have any requests, and I'll see what I can do.

Okay, you know me, but who's Brooke Campbell? Here's a blurb from her promo stuff...

Brooke Campbell is a unique and charismatic singer and songwriter. Her original music is a skillful blend of acoustic/folk, pop, and bluegrass. Brooke's soulful songs are smart and poetic, and masterfully merge raw melodies with perfect wordcrafting and keen intelligence.

She was signed to the Arch Music Group in 2000 and has toured extensively as a solo artist. Always willing to damn convention for the sake of creativity, “Brooke is one of those rare talents who manage to outrun the trends and force the rest of the world to keep up”. For more, go to Brooke Campbell.

If you plan to come to NYC, please RSVP to rsvp@internationalartsmovement.org. The space holds about 60 people maximum.

Photo montage: LL Barkat, excerpt of InsideOut poem 'In Your Dream', and Brooke Campbell. By L.L. Barkat.

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