Tag: Val Cole

Escape – Poetry Reading by Farzleen F Khan

Performed by Val Cole

Get to know the poet: 
1) What is the theme of your poem?

Drama

2) What motivated you to write this poem?

Watching the documentary leading to Amy Whinehouses’ death

3) How long have you been writing poetry?

Since I was 12 after I received my first diary and got into it actively after signing up for a poetry writing class back when i was a sophomore in 1998 at Western Michigan Uni Kalamazoo

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

It would be Sylvia Plath

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

Just the mere thought of having someone else read it for others to hear and hopefully relate to is we inspiring

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

Short stories and copywriting

7) What is your passion in life?

Seeing and encouraging others esp young women to ultimately live their lives to the fullest (put aside their careers, family, issues etc) for themselves first and to experience some form of joy and contentedness going through a journey of creativity whilst witnessing a sense of fulfillment it brings.

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

Director: Kierston Drier
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson

Camera Operator: Mary Cox

Beautiful Dead Dragonfly Why – Poetry Reading by James Gaynor

 

Performed by Val Cole
1) What is the theme of your poem?

Is there a moment of clarity preceding the final darkness that is either night or death?

2) What motivated you to write this poem?

My friend, the photographer Andrew Guest,  took a picture of a dead dragonfly that I found oddly beautiful. I started thinking of the insect’s life, one defined  almost completely by  constant aerial movement, now finished, attested to by still and iridescent corpse on the ground.

3) How long have you been writing poetry?

More than 50 years

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

Sushi with Jane Austen

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

I hear my poetry read by a voice inside my head. Oddly enough, it sounds just like me. I was curious as to what it might sound like read by someone with a beautiful voice, someone I didn’t know.

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

As #HaikuJim I write regular commentary for OTVmagazine.com and have just published a new book, Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice in 61 Haiku (1,037 Syllables!)  https://www.amazon.com/Austens-Pride-Prejudice-Haiku-Syllables/dp/0997842830/ref=tmm_pap_title_1?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1508089031&sr=8-1

7) What is your passion in life?

I’m a classic Scorpio. Make of that what you will.  😎

 

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

Director: Kierston Drier
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson

Camera Operator: Mary Cox

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

Performed by Val Cole

Get to know the poet:

What is the theme of your poem?

Even when we are at our worst, there is still a splinter of hope.

What motivated you to write this poem?

We have been invaded with horrific news day after day, and in today’s world, there is a lot of fear and a lot of hate. And I fear that would kill humanity, but then natural disasters happen. And we move past all that monstrosity and remember the most important thing: To be human.

How long have you been writing poetry?

I started writing poetry in middle school and really got into it later in high school.

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

Sam Waterston. Seems like an interesting guy, and he was great in The Newsroom.

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

Words carry weight, but when spoken, that weight resonates more.

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

I have written numerous short stories over the years. A lot of my short stories have been published by various Ezines such as Gadfly Online and Antarctica Journal, and recently, I have self-published a few short stories on Amazon Kindle.

What is your passion in life?

Writing
 

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

Director: Kierston Drier
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson

Camera Operator: Mary Cox

Watch the SEPTEMBER 2017 Poetry Readings

Performed by Val Cole & Laura Kyswaty

Poetry Reading: Morning by, Vihang A Naik

Poetry Reading: Isadore Greely’s Place, by DE Navarro

Poetry Reading: Blue Remembered Hills by Cas Greenfield

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poetry Reading: Morning by, Vihang A Naik

Performed by Val Cole

What is the theme of your poem?

I have been always in pursuit of going beyond physical. Going beyond physics. I consider physical body is weak but the spirit is strong. Spiritualism, perhaps can be the theme besides other layers of themes. It may have multiple interpretations. Hermeneutics .

What motivated you to write this poem?

The impulse running underneath the is letting go of physical and realising the spritual.

How long have you been writing poetry?

I have now been writing poetry since more than three decades .

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

Dinner reminds me of the last supper. I wish i was with nine disciples of Christ.

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

To me poetry is performance as well along with reading it out aloud with certain specific rhythm.

And Festival for Poetry has come out with indescribable idea for performance reading my some one who for other field of arts. An actor. It is always exciting to see how your poetry gets performed.

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

I practice writing poetry in Gujarati language ( my mother tongue ) besides translations I often translate Gujarati language poetry into English language besides my own Gujarati language poetry .

What is your passion in life?

The ultimate passion in life is to be human. I love this life where we are human beings.

Is it not true that when you wake up to see the world and switch on your television and you see all nations torn apart and that centre cannot hold …

Vihang A. Naik 😦 b. 1969 ) Indian poet writing in English.He took to teaching as a profession, serving in colleges since 1996 in Gujarat. He lives and works in Gujarat, India. He can be visited at http://www.vihang.org

Poetry Reading: Journey of the Butterfly by Denise Stephani

Performed by Val Cole

Get to know the poet:

What is the theme of your poem?

The poem represents the individual journey which leads to activism and standing up for truth and justice. It is meant to be motivation and inspiration for all those on such a life journey.

What motivated you to write this poem?

My own life and struggles as an activist against all forms of abuse.

How long have you been writing poetry?

Since I was a child. Too aging to give figures. 😉

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

Maya Angelou

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

I want to share my poetry on the internet in a viewer friendly form.

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

I have published 2 books: ‘In the Wings’ and ‘Letters to Mandela’ (Award-winning)and written a few screenplays, some of which have been placed in competitions.

What is your passion in life?

Inspiring global change to create a better world for future generations.

Poetry Reading: Dreams… by Buffy Sammons

Performed by Val Cole

Get to know the winning poet:

What is the theme of your poem?

Being ill and bedridden for so long, these are the dreams that I have and they get me away from my reality. It’s my bucket list and really it’s my way out sometimes.

What motivated you to write this poem?

To give others that are in similar situations reasons to find Solutions or places to dream about and that they sometimes do come true. I want people to know that they’re not alone and there are ways to take your mind elsewhere sometimes.

How long have you been writing poetry?

I actually just recently found out that I was writing poems in 1st grade. I’m not saying that they were good poems, but they did rhyme so I guess prose was always a love of mine.

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

All of my family and loved ones lost.

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

I am a disabled bedridden nurse and I am just an amateur poet prose just struck me and gave me a reason to get up each day.

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

I actually write a lot because it calms my mind and helps me to relax because I don’t sleep much and it eases my pain along with painting. Most of my poems come in the middle of the night.

What is your passion in life?

As someone who took care of and watched her family and friends pass away I am a 45 year old that never knew how to slow down and smell the roses I just want to try to be kind to one another and pay it forward to others in similar situations I’m trying to set up a foundation because art and any form really saved my life and gave me a reason to wake up and try each morning and as long as God blesses me to give me those daily breaths I will continue to use them to try to do something for others and hopefully get better in the process.

Poetry Reading: eVu TPS, by Lawrence Klein

Performed by Val Cole

Get to know the winning poet:

What is the theme of your poem?

Self-Regulation using Biofeedback

What motivated you to write this poem?

The eVu-TPS plugs you into your Smart Phone for Self-Control

How long have you been writing poetry?

Since 1972 – for 45 years

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

Shakespeare

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

To give it broader exposure. All my poetry could be used as Songs, and eVu-TPS is being put to music now.

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

In 1974 I co-Authored Mind Over Muscle – Biofeedback Peak Performance Training System with Major Nory Laderoute, former Athletic Director of the Canadian Armed Forces Combat Training Centre in Gagetown N.B.

· I am in the process of writing the History of Sport Psychology / Sport Psychophysiology

· I wrote a Children’s book but have been too busy to publish it.

What is your passion in life?

Skiing and Sport Psychology – I’m 52 years a Ski Coach and Instructor, and Manufacturing Medical Instrumentation for 43 years. My Family, 2 daughters and wife.

Poetry Reading: Time Passing So Quickly, by Kayla Krilove

Performed by Val Cole

Get to know the winning poet:

What is the theme of your poem?

The theme of this poem is Coming of Age. It includes aspects of childhood, and the mental and physical acceptance of becoming an adult.

What motivated you to write this poem?

I wrote this poem the last week of high school. I was inspired because I had attended the same school for thirteen years of my life and was now moving into a world very unknown to me, and very outside my social and academic bubble. I wanted to write a piece that many other young adults could relate to, and I read it in front of my entire school on the last day.

How long have you been writing poetry?

I have always been writing, ever since six or seven years old. I’ve been making movies and writing silly poems all my childhood but it wasn’t until Sophomore and Junior years of high school that I became more serious about it. I took a Creative Writing course that opened up a whole new level of poetry skills for me. Since then, I have been writing poetry for my own pleasure.

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

I would have dinner with Sylvia Plath!

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

I see my poem relating to many people and would love for it to reach many more through this poetry submission.

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

I write short stories, scripts, and poems.

What is your passion in life?

My passion is to give my best to all aspects of my life. I have multiple passions in my life, writing being one of them. Yet, I would say my ability to give my best version and attention to each one is most important to me.

Poetry Reading: ME, by Jim Durkey

Performed by Val Cole

Get to know the winning poet:

What is the theme of your poem?

— Honor the song in your heart.

What motivated you to write this poem?

— My granddaughter had a learning disability and was shunned by her classmates.

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?

— My mother.

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

— Perhaps someone listening to the poem may know of a young person who could benefit from reading it.

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

— Screenplays and short stories.

What is your passion in life?

— To be able to spend more time writing.