I participated in my first poetry reading this past Tuesday evening. A charming and new store front theatre offers up its space on the first Tuesday night of each month for folks to gather, read, and encourage, in non-competitive environs. I think the fact that nine people were present in a city of around one hundred thousand is sadly indicative of the place of poetry in our society. It is, perhaps, too little known that poets are some of the real keepers of Spirit and Truth. My observation is "Spirit" is terribly misunderstood in our culture and "Truth"- well, what t.v. loving, herd member wants to hear that shit? Anyway, I read three: two of which are on older posts here, and received pleasant affirmation. It was good for me to be nervous, as in many things involving presence with others, I'm very comfortable. I didn't get humor being found in my lead piece, and I wondered if that was because I followed a very funny reader/reading.
I'll go again. It's nice to put the poems outside myself. It is an entirely different way for me to experience my work.
