Category: poetry reading

Poetry Reading: THE BALLAD OF JOHNNY RAY SIXPACK, by John Ervin

Performed by Val Cole

Get to know the poet:

What is the theme of your poem?

The all-encompassing ignorance and intolerance of anyone who voted for President Trump.

What motivated you to write this poem?

The main character, Johnny Ray Sixpack, of my political comedy film script “The Look of Hate”. I was also motivated by the disgust I have for the shocking number of people in this country who helped Donald Trump become President (even if he didn’t win the popular vote and had help from Vladimir Putin).

How long have you been writing poetry?

Off- and-on for much of my life, though my strengths are in screenwriting and writing non-fiction articles.

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

Tilda Swinton

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

Professional actors can convey the words I write better than when they are just on the page or the phone. Also, it’d be interesting to see Johnny Ray Sixpack personified (for the first … but not the last … time).

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

I have primarily written feature and short film scripts, five of which have been made into movies. I have also written articles on politics and entertainment for periodicals such as City Pages and The Rake.

What is your passion in life?

To continue bringing my screenplays to life on the big and little screens. And to see Donald Trump impeached and imprisoned!

Poetry Reading: The Great Willow, by Kourtney D. Cooper

Performed by Val Cole

Get to know the poet:

What is the theme of your poem?

The theme of my poem addresses sorrow and the consequences one’s sorrows can beget on surrounding people, places and things. We tend to, as humans, have a strange genetic need to be amongst equals. The rich comingle with other likeminded wealth, the poor unable to escape their poverties, the happy with the happy, and if uninterrupted or thwarted, the sad with the sad. If uninterrupted, I’m sure the multiplicity sorrow could prove diabolic.

What motivated you to write this poem?

I am trying to expand my writing, to attempt other forms of writing so that I can grow and evolve as a writer. In their brief existence, poetry challenges a person to think and wonder profoundly by use of beautifully, deliberately arranged words. I want to master this skill.

How long have you been writing poetry?

I just began. My skill and technique is perhaps a few months old. I am training myself by reading other arranged works to help strengthen my own poetic muscle. Even in my writing this, I notice a difference in my writing.

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

As cliché as this answer may appear (hopefully it doesn’t relate to pathetic), the one person I’d want to have dinner with is Beyonce. Perhaps the overall reason is due to how much I idolize her hustle and talent. I would want to probe her thoughts on what drives her momentum? How does she challenge herself to attain the next level, to exceed even herself? Things that relate to her maintaining a consistent behavior that bears wealth in wisdom and evolved talent.

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

I want to hear my work voiced outside my own head, outside my own mouth—to see someone else interpret the emotion placed throughout the poem.

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

I do write other works: scripts, short stories, blogs, comics, and novels as of now.

What is your passion in life?

My passion in life is to one day write as a successful writer for Hollywood.

Poetry Reading: JUNIOR (IN MEMORY OF), by James R Adams II

Performed by Becky Shrimpton

Get to know the poet:

What is the theme of your poem?

Initial reaction to unexpected tragedy and loss

What motivated you to write this poem?

Self-healing and processing/honoring a murdered friend who was in the wrong place at the wrong time- and I was trying to figure out “Why were you there? What were you involved in?” Goes from shock, pessimism and anger to hope and faith.

How long have you been writing poetry?

I do it from time to time as I write a novel. To warm up, or in this case, to express something I’d never dealt with.

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

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

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

I’d done it before. Usually my poems are contemplative. This one is much more raw, emotional and real-life

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

Yes

What is your passion in life?

Whatever is right in front of me.

Poetry Reading: The Fourth Month, by Gloria D. Gonsalves

Performed by Val Cole

Get to know the poet:

What is the theme of your poem?

The poem has two themes: nature and humour.

What motivated you to write this poem?

This poem was written in 2016 during NaPoWriMo/GloPoWriMo. The prompt was to write a poem in which one explores what they think is the cruelest month, and why.

How long have you been writing poetry?

Over 10 years and I’m still learning every day.

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

It would be Beatrix Potter, for her knowledge in mycology. We would chat about my picture book ‘Lamellia: The Kingdom of Mushrooms’. The story is about high advanced mushroom society, who found a human baby alone in the forest. Their king decides to adopt it and orders Lamellians to use their abilities to care for it.

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

I dislike public performance. So your platform is the right place for me to co-share the skill of writing and performing with someone else.

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

I have published books on fantasy/adventure/educational tales with moral lessons. In the published portfolio is also a novella and anthology of thoughts. For anyone interested to know more, I am giving free books to visitors on my website.

What is your passion in life?

Inspire and invoke positive changes with my writing.

Watch the April 2017 Poetry Readings

Performed by Amaka Umeh

Poetry Reading: What is Love, by Colin Guest

Poetry Reading: The Second Cup by Michael Westcombe

Poetry Reading: THE ALMOST HOLY QUATERNITY by Gloria D Gonsalves

Poetry Reading: Plica, by Ewan Lawrie

Poetry Reading: ON THE WATER by Tammi Croteau

Poetry Reading: FIVE by Tammi Croteau

Poetry Reading: DREAM by Mary Freericks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poetry Reading: The Second Cup by Michael Westcombe

Performed by Amaka Umeh

POETRY 7 questions:

What is the theme of your poem?

the relationship between husband and wife, within the family

What motivated you to write this poem?

I found the image, and the structure, to express my perceptions and thoughts correctly.

How long have you been writing poetry?

For about fifty years

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

E. M. Forster, or G. F. Handel

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

Nothing. It was a condition of your competition. In my experience, actors are terrible at this

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

Sometimes

What is your passion in life?

Music, and political philosophy.

Watch the February 2017 Poetry Readings

Performed by Geoff Mays

Dark Poetry Reading: YESTERDAY, TODAY, TOMORROW by Eve Noel

Dark Poetry Reading: The Waiting Room by Richard Rensberry

Dark Poetry Reading: The One eyed Child by Phil Boiarski

Dark Poetry Reading: The Dark Stranger by Billie Myers

Paralysis – Poetry Reading by Mara Prose

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Watch the March 2017 Poetry Readings

Performed by Val Cole

Poetry Reading: Vanquished by Melissa R Mendelson

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN – Poetry Reading by Derek Stephen McPhail

Ordinary Time – Poetry Reading by Robert Drusetta

Futurist I am – Poetry Reading by Stephen Karnaghan

Poetry Reading: Encounter in Santa Chiara by LindaAnn Lo Schiavo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poetry Reading: Vanquished by Melissa R Mendelson

Performed by Val Cole

POETRY 7 questions:

What is the theme of your poem?

I try not to make a habit on writing about war, but sometimes I can’t turn a blind eye on what it does to us, inspiring me then to create poems such as Vanquished.

What motivated you to write this poem?

I have a drawer filled with old, either printed out or handwritten poems, and Vanquished was one of them. Most of the poems in this drawer have a date on them, but Vanquished does not. I know that I wrote this poem after 9/11, maybe even after Desert Storm, and I also know that something on the news triggered something deep within me to write it.

How long have you been writing poetry?

The thought of writing poetry never crossed my mind until the seventh grade, where two creative writing teachers encouraged me to start doing so, and in the beginning, they were small. But over the years, they have become a voice that brings out all that I have buried deep inside.

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

Edgar Allan Poe

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

My poetry speaks to me when I write it, but once written, its voice might go unheard unless captured by someone, who can echo those words.

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

I recently finished writing my first Horror/Sci-Fi Novel, Lizardian, which can be found as an E-book on Amazon Kindle, and I have begun drafting my next novel, Darkness Dreams, which will be Mystery/Suspense.

What is your passion in life?

Writing.

Coda, Poetry by Forrest Jamie

 Genres: Breakup, Closure, Heartbreak, Love, Relationships, Romantic, The End

—-

Darling boy
I know how this story goes –
it’s ours, after all
and I could read it
with my eyes closed.
And why must re-reading those chapters
of our one-sided love story
hurt so good?

You said that
my coffee brown eyes felt like home,
but you’re the wandering kind
and so
the timing is all wrong.
You never stay (in one place)
for too long.

I’m an open book.
I give myself to you
anywhere
anytime
and every time,
you leave with another torn up page of me
but I couldn’t care less if I tried.

We will always be
my favourite
romantic tragedy.
 

 

 

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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

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