Category: Poetry Festival

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.

Inertia – Poetry Reading by James R Adams II

Performed by Hugh Ritchie

Get to know the poet:

What is the theme of your poem?

It’s about catharsis. Waking up. These things move me not kind of stuff. Whether it’s external b.s. or internal b.s. If we don’t learn to let go and stop being our own worst enemy, we don’t change. If we keep failing the same tests? We keep getting thrown back into the same place, only to be tested over and over again until we learn to let go and stop being slaves and victims to circumstance and bad habits. Only I can do that for me and only you can do that for you. Join me. It’s a cleansing.

What motivated you to write this poem?

I can’t control how they’ll respond. I hope they enjoy it and that they connect to it and to me in some way that is meaningful to them. I’m trying to connect with them. Whatever floats their boat when it comes down to it. If it doesn’t resonate with some, that’s okay too.

How long have you been writing poetry?

In elementary school when I had to for a project. Very sporadically since.

Do you have a favorite poet?

I’m not a real learned reader of the greats. Coleridge’s Kubla Khan because it’s so powerful. Describing the indescribable. It’s powerful, beautiful, terrifying and enigmatic. He was brilliant. I like things that are contemplative. With music, there’s too many to mention. Maynard James Keenan, Roger Waters and David Gilmour’s lyrics make me contemplate their meaning, and I like that. They are sublime.

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

Sounded like a cool idea. Get it out there.

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

Just finished a major revision of my first novel-length manuscript. Wrote a script and shot a short film based on the manuscript (Cuckold Picasso- there’s a trailer on youtube, cuckoldpicasso.com and IMDb).

What is your passion in life?

My family, my writing, and making sure I’m doing things that inspire me. I didn’t for a long time and my quality of life was not what is in today. I began writing seriously two years ago. It changed my life.

The Numb Vessel, Poetry by Susie G. Carmichael

Genre: Life, People

How can I write what I feel when i dont feel a thing.
I am into dope music, but by myself, is when i sing
to beautiful metaphors, raw lyrics, and melodic symphonies.
That’s why I want to rescue those artist from that dirty industry.
Because from the dirty corners of my brain, they have rescued me.
You’re an amazing artist and too talented; from control, propaganda, bad deals, you should be free.
People believe what they hear and listen to what they see.
Sometimes I feel like I’m the only one who understands that not everything isn’t what it seems.
I want to end the deception and own a record company.
One that encourages exploration of artistic integrity.
All of your morals and all of your soul would be for you to keep.
God has given you position of unique saviors so praise i give to thee.
The devil uses your position of power to only speak of sex, drugs, and division of communities.
Over at _______ records they’ll be nothing short of Kings and Queens speaking of uplifting subjects and on our deserved possessions of royalty.
And of course the occasionally shake your tail feather for everyone to enjoy at parties and move your feet.
But business comes first.
May freedom sing on a Black Friday. Nightmare on wall Street. Trick or treat.
No more albums and buck a meet and greet.
You all are the real angels of music, with God, Satan, you shall defeat.
That “one man shouldn’t have all that power.”
His 33rd he calls holy land, over there he frequently creeps.
But “perfection is so, mm,” sow what you reap.
The wrath of the good is coming, the industry is number one public enemy.
Help us, help you. You are already crowned.

Now just Let me cross you to victory.

 

 

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Deadline: FREE POETRY Festival – Get your poem made into a MOVIE and seen by 1000s. Three options to submit:
http://www.wildsound.ca/poetrycontest.html

Watch Poetry performance readings:

Watch Poetry made into Movies:

Sometimes, Poetry by Micheal Ace

Genre: Society, Rhyme

Sometimes I know the sky is not happy
But I besiege them to hold back tears
Sometimes I buy myself some fancy wears
For how you appear tags you a price
Sometimes I know the universe is boring
But the sun has no choice but to smile
.
Sometimes I say my thoughts so loud
Because someone might hold them dear
Sometimes I learn new and stylish steps
For we don’t define beauty on one spot
Sometimes I know how far I am from love
But I cloth some poems in charming words
.
Sometimes I hold on to my mother’s eyes
Even though they won’t stay there forever
Sometimes I give father some clear shots
So I may hold his grin till the end of time
Sometimes I let my mind do the cries
Because none of these memories will last
.
Sometimes I wish these times never end
Even though I see better days coming
Sometimes I hope I can change the past
For I have seldom made mama smile
Sometimes I do not find meaning to these words
But I write them so I may have my peace
.
.
Micheal Ace
#magicalpoe

 

    * * * * *

Deadline: FREE POETRY Festival – Get your poem made into a MOVIE and seen by 1000s. Three options to submit:
http://www.wildsound.ca/poetrycontest.html

Watch Poetry performance readings:

Watch Poetry made into Movies: