Author: poetryfest

Submit your Poetry to the Festival. Three Options: 1) To post. 2) To have performed by an actor 3) To be made into a film.

The Songs You Left – Poetry Reading by Lois Terrans Bradbury

Poetry performed by Val Cole

Get to know the poet:

What is the theme of your poem?

Grief and loss of losing someone you love and finding a way to keep going.

What motivated you to write this poem?

Watching a musician performing knowing the recent loss in their life.

How long have you been writing poetry?

Since my teenage years.When I got more marks for one page poems than a two page compositions in English class.

If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?

My Grandfather.

What influenced you to submit to have your poetry performed by a professional actor?

Watching and hearing someone else’s interpretation of the words written on the page and bringing it to life.

Do you write other works? scripts? Short Stories? Etc..?

Yes. Short stories, plays, scripts, novels, songs. A writer writes. I write.

What is your passion in life?

Being the best friend I know how, helping others overcome and achieve.

nobody crazy ’bout an angry white man – Poetry Reading by Juley Harvey

Poetry performed by Val Cole

Get to know the poet:

What is the theme of your poem?

The state of America

What motivated you to write this poem?

The state of America

How long have you been writing poetry?

Since high school

If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?

The Dalai Lama

What influenced you to submit to have your poetry performed by a professional actor?

Seemed like a good idea at the time

Do you write other works? scripts? Short Stories? Etc..?

Short stories, creative nonfiction, novel, prize-winning poet and former journalist

What is your passion in life?

Pretty much given up on people; to bring as much beauty, laughter, and light into the world as i can!

A trace of dreams – Poetry Reading by Dora Marii

Poetry performed by Val Cole

Twitter: @marii_dora

Get to know the poet:

What is the theme of your poem?

Power of fantasy is the theme of this poem.

Waking up in early morning hours and having a dreamlike inspiration. What is inspiration? Having lots of fantasy and starting to realise it and to handle it can change your life 🙂

What motivated you to write this poem?

Following fantasy and dreams and looking for ways to ‘make them real’ is a great motivator for our lives. This poem depicts how I have started the year 2016 – to the end of the year I have found my reality. I am a poet and this is the path for me.

How long have you been writing poetry?

I have written poetry from ‘91 to ‘98 but showing it only to friends and school mates. I have started to write again 2013.

If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?

Lady Gaga – I have had a crush on her music lately, loving ‘Marry the night’. Good music needs also good lyrics.

What influenced you to submit to have your poetry performed by a professional actor?

I find it a great idea! Some years ago I have seen something like this on TV and liked it. Such performances are refreshingly attracting more people to arts and to poems.

Do you write other works? scripts? Short Stories? Etc..?

I write short stories, one of them ‘The calm river’ was submitted in autumn 2016 to a publishing contest and is now available on my Facebook Page (would love if you can link to it! http://bit.ly/dora-calm-river)

What is your passion in life?

I am a professional dreamer searching for my Self – the biggest adventure nowadays.

A Shadow – Poetry Reading by Christopher Burn

Poetry performed by Val Cole

Get to know the poet:

What is the theme of your poem?

Self improvement through change

What motivated you to write this poem?

Recovery from addiction

How long have you been writing poetry?

Sporadically for thirty years but more intensely for the past five years

If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?

The Greek poetess Sappho.

What influenced you to submit to have your poetry performed by a professional actor?

Curiosity as to how an objective rendering would sound.

Do you write other works? scripts? Short Stories? Etc..?

I have written two books (Poetry Changes Lives and The Fun We Had), I also write articles, blogs and reviews.

What is your passion in life?

My passion in life is Life itself, specifically family, friends, writing and the afterlife, none of which I am good at.

2016! – Poetry Reading by Kevin Short

 Poetry performed by Val Cole

Get to know the poet:

What is the theme of your poem?

A REFLECTION OF TWELVE MONTHS PAST

What motivated you to write this poem?

THE SADNESS AND DESPAIR EXPERIENCED BY MANY DURING 2016

How long have you been writing poetry?

40 YEARS +

If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?

IT’S A TOSS UP BETWEEN ELVIS AND SAMUEL BECKETT, BUT DONALD TRUMP WOULD BE FAVORITE RIGHT NOW!

What influenced you to submit to have your poetry performed by a professional actor?

I AM A PERFORMANCE POET MYSELF, BUT I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE GOOD TO HEAR ANOTHER PROFESSIONAL’S PERSPECTIVE AND INTERPRETATION.

Do you write other works? scripts? Short Stories? Etc..?

YES, I WRITE PLAYS, SCREENPLAYS, SONGS, QUIRKY BOOKS, AND A LITTLE HAIKU.

What is your passion in life?

MY PASSION IS TO PROVIDE FOOD FOR THOUGHT THROUGH THE ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT MEDIA.

2016: A year of heartaches and surprise – Poetry Reading by Ruth Andrews Garnes

 Poetry performed by Val Cole

Get to know the poet:

What is the theme of your poem?

2016 in Review

What motivated you to write this poem?

The challenge by Festival of poetry.

How long have you been writing poetry?

Approximately 20 years.

If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?

Oprah Winfrey

What influenced you to submit to have your poetry performed by a professional actor?

Oprah Winfrey

Do you write other works? scripts? Short Stories? Etc..?

Yes, I’ve written 2 script and has two poetry collection.

What is your passion in life?

My family and writing

Watch the January 2017 Poetry Readings

Poetry performed by Hugh Ritchie and Val Cole

Little Girl Lost Diana Princess of Wales Poetry Reading by Patricia Poulos

WHY DO PEOPLE HATE – Poetry Reading by Felicia L Smith

Tears of Remorse – Poetry Reading by Debbie Lyn Jones

Inertia – Poetry Reading by James R Adams II

An Election – Poetry Reading by Diana Benskin

 

 

Little Girl Lost – Diana Princess of Wales, Poetry Reading by Patricia Poulos

Poetry performed by Val Cole

Get to know the poet:

What is the theme of your poem?

Sadness and loss

What motivated you to write this poem?

The death of the Princess Diana

How long have you been writing poetry?

I commenced in about 1970.

If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

What influenced you to submit to have your poetry performed by a professional actor?

I wished to share the life of one lost to the world

Do you write other works? scripts? Short Stories? Etc..?

I have written 4 non-fiction books, a number of short stories, I have written, produced and edited the “Profiler” magazine, five feature scripts and one short.

What is your passion in life?

To do all I can to prevent suffering and starvation of the populace (including animals) and protect children.

An Election – Poetry Reading by Diana Benskin

Performed by Hugh Ritchie

Get to know the poet:

What is the theme of your poem?

The theme of my poem is to portray the cloud of doubt that surrounds this election

What motivated you to write this poem?

The manner in which the PEOTUS attacked a remarkable woman in Senator Hillary Clinton that has done so much for our country

How long have you been writing poetry?

I have been writing poetry since I was a teenager.

If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?

This is a difficult one there are so many people I would love to converse with My list would include Dr. Martin Luther king Jr, Jesus Christ, Harriet Tubman, President Obama, Bob Marley, Oprah Winfrey, My first African ancestor taken that was kidnapped and brought into slavery. Henceforth since I am confined to only choosing one it would be Maya Angelou

What influenced you to submit to have your poetry performed by a professional actor?

To be a voice for those who cannot speak or are afraid to do so

Do you write other works? scripts? Short Stories? Etc..?

Yes, I am in the process of releasing a collection entitled Spoken words from the mouth of this Babe

What is your passion in life?

Hmmmm, I have many, but writing, and a desire to learn to play the piano is one and to enlighten the younger generation also

Tears of Remorse – Poetry Reading by Debbie Lyn Jones

Performed by Hugh Ritchie

Get to know the poet:

What is the theme of your poem?

Voices Silenced

What motivated you to write this poem?

I read the newspaper article about the stepmother and grandmother running this poor child to death. I knew someone needed to speak for her and for others who are the victims of abuse.

How long have you been writing poetry?

I started when I was about 8 years old and I have about every poem or verse I have written since then.

If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?

Mother Teresa. Her love, patience, and wisdom have always inspired me.

What influenced you to submit to have your poetry performed by a professional actor?

I had planned to create it in multimedia myself, however, my diabetes resulted in cataracts, a hearing loss and nerve damage to my hands. While I do plan on creating the piece in multimedia, I wanted to get this piece out there and share it. I felt that a professional actor would give it the emotions it deserved.

Do you write other works? scripts? Short Stories? Etc..?

I write verse, poems, and inspirational articles. On the quirky side, I write prose about the Walking Dead, at my blog: http://twd-coda.tumblr.com/. I used to play the piano long ago (started in 2nd grade) and used to be an illustrator.

What is your passion in life?

I am a creative. It is part of everything I do, and everything that I am.

Most of my writing is very emotional and heartfelt. Some even consider it dark. I struggled to explain “the why” in my first YouTube Video entitled “My Child” which was about the Haiti tragedy. When I posted My Child, the reason of why I share my writing, became clear: Sometimes, sorrow must be shared ~ so that we can feel as one, mourn as one, heal as one….

Eventually, I want to create a multimedia channel called Voices Silenced, and be a voice for those who are unable to tell their story.