'Slammed' in National Poetry Month

I'm not crazy about Identified Special Interest Months. For example: African-American History Month, Latino Heritage Month, North Carolina Pork Product Month (yes, gentle reader, that last one is probably made up). In saying that, Caroleena, my connection to the soul and pulse of counter culture America, has reminded me April is National Poetry month. My love of the written word has over powered my narcisistic disdain for identified months, so I am choosing to put aside my issues with the abuse of our Roman calendar and embrace "National Poetry Month". By embrace, of course I mean the way most academics embrace things they don't understand...observe, devour, deconstruct, whatever.

Caroleena has been writing evocative poetry on her My Tribe cyber-space, the kind that makes you go, "Hmmmm!" Having passable talent with the written word, and absolutely no talent with poetry (owing to my German Heritage and being an American Man, really not much practice at being "in-touch" with my feelings), I absolutely adore Caroleena for articulating emotions often left unsaid. Fortunately, there are Caroleena's and others out there so I don't have to be talented with poetry, I can just enjoy poetry with an appreciative ear.

So, what poetry have I been enjoying lately? I've been surfing 'You Tube' for some slam poetry. For those of us pretty new to slam poetry, I'm going to blatantly steal from Wikipedia - "Slam poetry is a postmodern performance poetry, a form of spoken word performed at a competitive poetry event, called a "slam", at which poets perform their own poems (or, in rare cases, those of others) that are "judged" on a numeric scale by randomly picked members of the audience." Without pidgeon-holing slam poetry, there are definite connections to hip-hop culture especially in many of the poets' styles and cadences. Check out the following video from You Tube.


I'm not sure of my reaction to creating a competition from this art form, it seems almost antithetical to the spirit of poetry, but I enjoy the fervor, passion and energy of the poets. I'll definitely be attending a slam sometime in the near future.

My favorite form of poetry, of course, is music. So, I'll just include a few sets of lyrics that I've been listening to lately.

Third Eye Blind, Motorcyce Drive By - "You smile and say the world doesn't fit with you. I don't believe you, you're so serene. Careening through the universe. Your axis on a tilt, you're guiltless and free I hope you take a piece of me with you." This bit of poetry reminds me of so many women I have come to love - Caroline, Julie, Gail, Donna, and the rolodex goes on.

Ani DiFranco, Out of Habit - "Art is why I get up in the morning but my definition ends there and it doesn't seem fair that I'm living for something I can't even define, there you are right there, in the mean time." The entire song is a melange of phrases and feelings set to exceptional guitar skills. I've always wanted to live as if art were the reason I get up in the morning...viva la boheme.

Rocky Votolato, Suicide Medicine - "Is it the red wire or the blue wire, just pick one and cut, it just doesn’t matter anymore…" Another song of metaphor and some disturbing imagery. I like to put this on when I'm very stressed...it helps me destress.

Postal Service, Brand New Colony - "I want to take you far away from the cynics in this town and kiss you on the mouth. We'll cut our bodies free from the tethers of this scene." This song...I think of Rusty.

So, friends, enjoy poetry this month and ignore my unjustified disdain for special interest months.

Other Stuff

Lenette and Carol had a great post Mardi Gras party. A few pics to give you a sense of the revelry. Pic 1: Big Pappa VooDoo and La Papillon
Pic 2: Di in a dress! Who woulda thunk it?

Pic 3: Evil or good? Who knows?


Quick other news:
- My last day for Wake County is June 15th, no I don't have a job in the bay area (but have an interview next month)
- Rusty is coming for a visit April 26. yeah.

OK, friends, enjoy National Poetry Month and all of the things that make Spring special!