Poetry Reading: AS MY OWN BREATH , by David Dephy

Performed by Carina Cojeen

After centuries of living with nothing, but my love to you, friends,

I found myself surrounded by the luxury of feelings and I am safe

now, I am alive, I am breathing again, but where were you, my friends,

when I was broken? I am calm now, but where were you my friends

when the emptiness encircled me and I was afraid? Where are the friends

when I need them most? I was yearning for knowledge, but from this

day on, I don’t want to know a thing except for, will I be able or not

to love you again, friends. Maybe everything and maybe nothing that I

have given or maybe not given away will ever be really as mine, as my

own breath? Hello friends, I found you after centuries of living with nothing

but my expectations — our life is what our expectations are. I thank you all.

David Dephy

January 2, 2020

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

Festival Moderators: Matthew Toffolo, Rachel Elder

Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne

Editors: Kimberly Villarruel, Ryan Haines, John Johnson

Festival Directors: Rachel Elder, Natasha Levy

Camera Operators: Ryan Haines, Temitope Akinterinwa, Efren Zapata, Zack Arch

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Poetry Reading: GENERATION, by A. Brown

Performed by Carina Cojeen

Generation, by A. Brown

To have Strength to persevere
in a time filled with:
peer pressure,
envy and hate,
is a modern-day miracle.
I’ve come to realise,
that the greater the blessing,
the greater the obstacle.
There was a glass ceiling,
until it was broken by
my,
desire not to be,
compared.
There are many opportunities,
but only one chance.
Father, help me,
I pray thee.
When disappointments come,
Please help me
to respond with integrity.
I don’t want to be,
another statistic,
whose life ends in tragedy.
You have never left our side.
Your promises are true.
Lord, I need you,
and our generation does too.

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

Festival Moderators: Matthew Toffolo, Rachel Elder

Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne

Editors: Kimberly Villarruel, Ryan Haines, John Johnson

Festival Directors: Rachel Elder, Natasha Levy

Camera Operators: Ryan Haines, Temitope Akinterinwa, Efren Zapata, Zack Arch

Poetry Reading: Today, by Anthony Dalton

Performed by Carina Cojeen

Get to know the poet:

1) What is the theme of your poem? The transient nature of love.

2) What motivated you to write this poem? My feelings for my wife when we first got together.

3) How long have you been writing poetry? A long, long time.

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

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

6) Do you write other works? scripts? Short Stories? Etc..? I have had 15 non-fiction books published, 5 novels published and 5 short stories.

7) What is your passion in life? Writing.

Poetry Reading: After The Highway, by Cleveland W. Gibson

Performed by Carina Cojeen

Get to know the poet:

1) What is the theme of your poem?

ANSWER: The power of love in a dramatic setting.

2) What motivated you to write this poem?

ANSWER: I always wanted to know what might have happened next in the original poem. In the end I decided to write my poem in a ghostly, yet intriguing way with a new point of view.

3) How long have you been writing poetry?

ANSWER: About 14 years but from a very slow start.

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

ANSWER: The late Dr Douglas Baker because he impressed me with his attitude to living and all the medical work he did..

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

ANSWER: The invitation to submit and then when I saw the chance of having my poem read by an actor I was thrilled enough to grasp the opportunity.

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

ANSWER: Yes.I’ve always considered myself a writer of short stories, flash fiction ,essays and articles. I do have a MG novel(WIP)called ‘Skull Drum’ and a short audio book.

7) What is your passion in life?

ANSWER: I want to publish my novel and a long ballad as a tribute to the many interesting people I’ve met and who have helped me.In particular my late son Michael who was my rock and such a generous person in all he did.

Watch the NOVEMBER 2017 Poetry Readings

Poetry Readings performed by Val Cole & Carina Cojeen

The Bane of Whitechapel – Poetry Reading by Lee A Forman

Maybe, There Is Still Hope – Poetry Reading by Melissa R. Mendelson

INDIAN SUMMER – Poetry Reading by Vihang A Naik

FRUSTRATION – Poetry Reading by Patricia Marvin

Escape – Poetry Reading by Farzleen F Khan

Beautiful Dead Dragonfly Why – Poetry Reading by James Gaynor