Category: poetry reading

Farewells of Mt Auburn – Poetry Reading by Mark Curtis Dunn

Poetry performed by Michelle Alexander

Get to know the winning poet:

POETRY 7 questions:

What is the theme of your poem?

The main theme of “Farewells of Mt. Auburn” is honoring the lives of the departed. A major subtheme is eternal life.

How would you like people to respond when they read or watch your poetry reading?

When people read the poem or watch the reading, I would like them to be transported with visual, emotional, and tactile experience.

How long have you been writing poetry?

I have been writing poetry for about fifty years.

Do you have a favorite poet?

If I have to choose a favorite – there are many – at this time in my life I would choose Robert Frost.

What influenced you to submit to the Poetry Festival and have your poetry performed by a professional actor?

I have submitted other material to Wildsound (at least one screenplay) and I had noticed that you had a poetry section as well. So I decided to share this poem.

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

I have written several screenplays across genres. Some short stories. I have recently completed a one-act stage play which I submitted to a local theater for reading.

What is your passion in life?

I have a passion for many things in life which include: asserting individual freedom against tyranny, savoring artistic free expression in aesthetic terms, and a desire to resonate a literary work with an audience, with the highest preference aimed at creating a work that contributes an archetype that finds its way into everyday life. Commercial rewards help, but I realize I might not see that in my lifetime. That’s another story.

Ground Zero – Poetry Reading by Melissa R Mendelson

Poetry performed by Michelle Alexander

Get to know the winning poet:

POETRY 7 questions:

What is the theme of your poem?

The theme is to not forget because as more time passes, we do forget, sometimes even the worst moments of our life.

How would you like people to respond when they read or watch your poetry reading?

To remember. We need to remember especially in the world that we are living in.

How long have you been writing poetry?

I’ve been writing poetry since high school. I even won a Reflections Award for one of my poems, which might have actually been in the eighth grade. I recently found this certificate buried among other items in the basement.

Do you have a favorite poet?

My favorite author is Stephen King, but as for a poet, I have found a multitude of talent on a website called, HitRecord. The poets there among the many other dozens of artists are amazing and brilliant.

What influenced you to submit to the Poetry Festival and have your poetry performed by a professional actor?

I have written many, many poems over the years. The older ones… Well, some shouldn’t see daylight, but I have seen how my poetry has progressed over the years. And the ones that I have written such as “Ground Zero” have their own voice, which needs to be heard.

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

Yes. I have actually just finished writing my fist novel, Lizardian, and I’ve had a lot of short stories published in the past. Some can still be found on Gadfly Online and others on HitRecord.

What is your passion in life?

Writing.

Lessons On Throwing Shade – Poetry Reading by Nigel Toussaint Bray

Poetry performed by Michelle Alexander

Get to know the winning poet:

POETRY 7 questions:

What is the theme of your poem?

The theme is life, humanity, and common respect for one another. If I have to choose one it would be the latter…respect.

How would you like people to respond when they read or watch your poetry reading?

I would like for people to laugh and ponder what I am saying. Read between the lines while being humored.

How long have you been writing poetry?

I’ve been writing poetry since high school but never really thought of myself as a poet. Both my father and my maternal grandfather like to write poetry so I guess in runs in the family. I consider myself to be more of a thinker who likes who like to put my thoughts down on paper poetically.

Do you have a favorite poet?

I actually don’t have a favorite poet per se but as a teenager I enjoyed reading poetry from: Rudyard Kipling, Maya Angelou and Kahill Gibran.

What influenced you to submit to the Poetry Festival and have your poetry performed by a professional actor?

I came across WildSound by happenstance on Twitter. I saw the poetry contest on the website and just decided to give it a shot.

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

This poem has the same title of the book I’m currently writing. Both have the same theme.

What is your passion in life?

My passion? Do I have to choose one? Okay, if so then I would have to say it is dancing. Mostly to music that uses drums like Cuban and Brazilian music.

My Demons – Poetry Reading by NADIA CABALLERO

Poetry performed by Michelle Alexander

Get to know the winning poet:

POETRY 7 questions:

What is the theme of your poem?

Theme of my poem…. um is chaos… darkness..

How would you like people to respond when they read or watch your poetry reading?

I think I would just want them to be aware of the real fear some people face inside.

How long have you been writing poetry?

I think I’ve been writing poetry on and off for about 15 years.

Do you have a favorite poet?

Edgar Allen Poe

What influenced you to submit to the Poetry Festival and have your poetry performed by a professional actor?

I see others poems read and thought is was really cool

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

I have only really written poems but I am thinking of writing a book.

What is your passion in life?

My children are my passion, and raising them to be un selfish and to follow their dreams.
I also love writing and playing pool 🙂

1918 Sanctuary – Poetry Reading by T Hopper

Poetry performed by actor Kaleb Alexander

1918 Sanctuary by T Hopper

POETRY 7 questions:

What is the theme of your poem?

world war one

How would you like people to respond when they read or watch your poetry reading?

I’d like people to feel that my poem has touched them inside , make them think that there are no winners or glory in war .

How long have you been writing poetry?

25 years

Do you have a favorite poet?

any poet that stirs emotions and thoughts within the reader.

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

I would like someone else to voice my poem someone who can add the emotions, the horror and the feelings that I’m trying to portray, I’d like more people to hear my work.

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

I only write poetry.

What is your passion in life?

people humanity, fighting injustices and unfairness in our world and society.

A Slow Train to Gwalior, Poetry Movie by Amitabh Mitra

A Slow Train to Gwalior by Amitabh Mitra

Amitabh Mitra is a poet, visual artist  and a medical practitioner at East London, South Africa. He heads the Department of Emergency Medicine at Cecilia Makiwane Hospital, Mdantsane, Eastern Cape. Widely published, Amitabh’s love poetry revolves around the city of Gwalior, India to which he originally belongs.

Amitabh Mitra

Watch the August 2016 Poetry Readings

Watch the August 2016 Poetry Readings.

DECISIONS, DECISIONS by Marcus J. King http://www.infamouskalel.wordpress.com

Performed by actor Julian Ford

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FUCK UP by Keshia L. Nowden:

Performed by actor Becky Shrimpton

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CANCER by CM Krishack:

Performed by actor Becky Shrimpton

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Watch the Poetry Reading FALLING IN LOVE:

Poetry performed by actor Becky Shrimpton

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Poetry #9 by Xzaviar Allen

 

Fuck Up – Poetry Reading by Keshia L. Nowden

Watch the August 2016 Poetry Reading.

FUCK UP by Keshia L. Nowden:

Performed by actor Becky Shrimpton

Get to know the poet:

1) What is the theme of your poetry collection?

That is a good question, mostly because I didn’t have a theme in mind at the time I wrote it, it was more getting something off my chest! In fact, I was surprised my poem was even selected, considering I wrote the poem in 2 hours…with a glass of wine, so the theme is one of shock! Seriously, the tone and theme of the poem is dealing with failure in life, struggling with inferiority and self-esteem.

2) How would you like people to respond when they read or watch your poetry reading?

Since poetry is subjective, I’m sure some will view this poem with anger, sadness, insight or delight. The most important thing I’d like people to take away from this is that we all screw up, it’s the process of life, but we can learn from our screw-ups, even if it takes this life or the next.

3) How long have you been writing poetry?

Believe it or not, only a few months. I never saw myself as a poet, I write mostly fiction, horror, and sci-fi specifically, and, on occasion, comedy.

4) Do you have a favorite poet?

I have several: John Keats is one of my favorites, I was exposed to his work in college. I also love Maya Angelou, Amiri Baraka, Nikki Giovanni. In terms in terms of lyrical poetry, Alicia Keys, Bob Dylan, Serge Gainsbourg, and the late, great David Bowie and Prince. They’ve all been a huge influence on my writing.

5) What influenced you to submit to WILDsound and have your poetry performed by a professional actor?

I did it based on the advice of a friend of mine (whom I hope doesn’t mind me mentioning her name), Tina Thompson, who encouraged me to get my writing out there instead of sitting around waiting for success to come to me. Had Tina not told me what I already knew, yet unwilling to believe, I would still be sitting there wondering “what if?” Thank you for kicking my patootie in the right direction, Tina!
Shameless plug: you can find Tina’s talented self as @alwayswriteTina on Twitter!

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

I am in the process of finishing revisions on four stories I’ve written for two anthologies I am going to be featured in this year. The first anthology are reboots of classic myths, folktales and legends. The second anthology, entitled “Human,” explores the human condition, and how we deal with loss, rejection, happiness, anger, etc. I am trying to work on a horror novel, one I started last November for National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo for short.

7) What is your passion in life?

I love writing, and I want my writing to reflect my successes and failures, and how each obstacle I’ve faced has only made me stronger as a result. Plus, I want to see my brilliant, if a bit Mad Hatter-esque, work brought to life as crappy film/TV adaptations! I mean, really, isn’t that what writers live for?*

*Sarcasm totally intended!

CANCER – Poetry Reading by C M Krishack

Watch the August 2016 Poetry Reading.

CANCER by CM Krishack:

Performed by actor Becky Shrimpton

Get to know the poet:

1) What is the theme of your poetry collection?

Cancer

2) How would you like people to respond when they read or watch your poetry reading?

Via the website or they can send emails to author.cmkrishack.com

3) How long have you been writing poetry?

I have been writing poetry since I was a teenager

4) Do you have a favorite poet?

My favorite poet is Maya Angelou

5) What influenced you to submit to WILDsound and have your poetry performed by a professional actor?

I saw the advertisement and thought it would be an amazing opportunity

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

I also write children’s books

7) What is your passion in life?

My passion in life is helping people heal. Rather it be through my poetry or my children’s books or through volunteering, I love helping people.

Poetry #4 by Xzaviar Allen

Poetry performed by Geoff Mays

Poetry #4 by Xzaviar Allen

Get to know the poet:

1) What is the theme of your poetry collection?

The theme of my poems was sexual intercourse. A vulgar/inappropriate subject maybe, but the inspiration behind the pieces drove me to write in such a way.

2) How would you like people to respond when they read or watch your poetry reading?

I’m not sure how people will react to these particular poems; people usually like them, but it depends on who’s reading.

3) How long have you been writing poetry?

I wrote my first poem in the fifth grade. Ive been hooked ever since.

4) Do you have a favorite poet?

My favorite poets are modern-age poets. J Cole, Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Jay Z, Kanye West, etc. Hip Hop is a form of poetry; I write my “poems” as though they were song lyrics.

5) What influenced you to submit to WILDsound and have your poetry performed by a professional actor?

I found out about WILDsound kind of randomly; I thought it couldn’t hurt to submit my work to somebody. Maybe they’ll like it!

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

I wrote a short story in college for a class project; I wouldn’t mind writing a script though. I guess it depends on what mood I’m in and what inspiration I have at the moment.

7) What is your passion in life?

My true passions in life are poetry and music; even so, I am skilled in other areas. I currently serve my country as a soldier in the United States Army.

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Producer/Director: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com

Editor: John Johnson

Casting: Sean Ballantyne