I could watch a couple of hours of Def Poetry Jam and still feel like my mind is being fed and at the same time know a collection of works by Sonja Sanchez will take me on a journey that the visual representation of poetry cannot…written words allow me to listen with my eyes creating images in my mind I just can’t get with performance poetry…the funny thing is a few years ago it didn’t used to be this way with me.
I was big on going to open mic venues and catching poets perform…but at times it seemed folks would get on the stage not to present a sliver of life as they know it, but because it was the cool and cosmopolitan thing to do….reciting empty rhetoric devoid of feeling.
Not to knock the word in Spoken form…for I enjoy poetry delivered with conviction and purpose for an immediate truth a poet conveys with their emotion can infect the soul. When someone is on stage and has the courage to present that type of genuineness it leaves an impression that can inspire…
…for now I take my inspiration slow roasted in a good book of poems.
Here’s a few of the books I tend to go to every now and again:
Some of my favorite poets:
Amethyst Rock…Saul Williams
Great post!
ReplyDeleteWhen someone performs something, you are delivered the word in their canter, their emotional inflection and each nuance is determined by the performer. You involvement is that of a spectator.
When you read poetry, the canter, emotional inflection and nuances are determined not only by the poet, but by you as the interpreter.
Both can be a very rewarding experience.
Where are these spoken word venues that you speak of??
ReplyDelete@ Jami...mostly in D.C...in and around the U St. corridor...sometimes the Howard U crowd could be a bit pretentious...a major turn off fo' sho.
ReplyDelete