I made it back from the 2014 Women Of The World Poetry Slam. It was the biggest and eye opening event I have ever been to. To see a collection of 72 (and more) poets come together under the name of honest good poetry made every hard part of it worth it.
I did in fact collect two chap books. Not as many as I was intending. If I discovered anything about myself at this event, it is I can be a real ball of stress when surrounded by a lot of people. To the point where I just wanted to go home and sleep. I felt like I knew no one, and everybody knew everybody. The first day it felt nearly impossible to fit in. What I really HAD TO learn is when I can break out of that shell, I am more powerful and make some pretty cool friends.
Due to a missed bus, one heading in the wrong direction, and a taxi driver stuck in Austin traffic. I missed orientation. Written rule says this takes you out of the slam. By the time that I had come to terms with crying a lot and not being able to compete, the body of poets picked me up, handed me a bag of goodies*, and reminded me that we are community. Community helps each other out. That moment of high stress being relieved by caring faces reminded me I was here to grow, not be a selfish brat.
*which included sunglasses, tampons, and also lube.
I in fact, got on a stage, in front of a lot of poets, I have never seen before in my life. Also, some non poets who just were trying to get drunk at the bar. This taught me that drunk judges of slams are either your best friend or the guy you plan to punch in the face in the alley way. I did perform four poems from memory. I did share my message with people who otherwise would have never heard it. This alone was an accomplishment. The 80 year old man judging me decided it was only worth a 6.5, but who cares. The moment one woman came to me and told me that my work moved her in a very important way, ranking 64 out of 72 didn't matter any more. I made it to Austin, Texas. I shared my art. I didn't throw up. I didn't fart in the mic. I did what I needed to do.
As said above I, in fact, read all of my poems from memory. Which is an idea involved in slam that weighed heavy on me. I didn't want to feel obligated by others to present my work any certain way. I did feel more powerful. I did feel like I had hands to use. I did butcher one of my poems, but no one would know. I didn't stumble. They went home believing those dropped lines never even existed. Two women on the last round of finals stage read from iPads. Did they perform awesome? Yes. Did it make them less cool? No. Did one of them win? Yes. That was powerful as hell.
Other cool element, my mom came with me. Being able to have her see my read my work for the first time felt pretty good. Also crazy it happened at a national event. It felt good to have her there to hear so many powerful messages about being a woman. So many shared words of encouragement and strength in our gender. She sat through over 100 poems with me. Also the best workshop of all time about performance by Gypsy Yo. Hearing such a strong poet say you don't need to be loud, or write for slam, and that she had a 6 minute time penalty before changed my attitude the whole rest of the trip. A little less "I have failed my venue," and a little more "I am hear to collect all this love and experience,".
Being in a different city inspired me to write so many new poems. Austin brags that it is weird, and it is weird. All capital letters WEIRD. The kind of weird that makes you never want to leave. I saw 20 bands play in a brass instrument festival. I ate dinner with the world's fattest pigeon. I hung out with drifters. Drifters were on every street corner. I had a deep fried steak burger with gravy.
There will be Texas inspired poems coming soon. As Women's History Month comes to a close, we are opening National Poetry Month. To celebrate I am doing a 30/30. I will write and edit a poem every single day for 30 days, all being posted here!
Upcoming Places My Face Can Be Seen
April 6th Performance Salon Cincinnati Moeller High School 6:30 pm
April 18th Writer's Block All Night - 3:15 - 3:45 am at Kafe Kerouac
June 7th Columbus Art's Festival Word Is Art Stage 7:00 pm
