Last Friday I went with Courtney to a poetry reading in southern Wisconsin. The café was delightful and only carried organic products. I confess, I ate cheesecake and a cinnamon roll for dinner that night. The server told me she admired me, but there's nothing to be admired about a 20 year old eating sugar for dinner and then blowing bubbles in her milk because she's so nervous about reading a poem in front of an audience that she has lost all her common sense.
But I digress...
It was my first time performing at an open mic, and I felt quite brave afterward -- like a gladiator of poets. The poem below is the one I read...into the microphone...that made my voice really really loud...so everybody could hear every single word I said...
Paper Tyranny
Rachel Marie Talan
We are paper dolls
in a paper world, and all
must fold before you.
Your wicked lips, like
paper clips, are click-clicking
over paper ears.
Crumpled citizens
listen and watch, faces blank
with unprinted fears.
Your scissors above
are casting shadows and dread:
Snip. Snip. We’re all dead.
I'd also like to thank everyone for the sweet words of encouragement you gave me on Monday. All of you are just swell :)
Oh congrats on your first open mic!! That's awesome!
ReplyDeleteAnd in response to your poem, wow!! What a powerful, well-written piece! I absolutely love it!
xo, gina
anythingimaginableblog.blogspot.com
Oh, Rachel, that poem is so inspiring. You are marvelous. <3
ReplyDeleteWhoa, that's exciting! Congrats! And I adore this poem-powerful and entrancing. Love it!
ReplyDeleteGood for you! Congrats on your open mic bravery!
ReplyDelete--TS
Congratulations on your performance. Public speaking gets easier and easier with practice; we gain confidence from experience.
ReplyDeleteThere was never a better time to use this corny 90s phrase: "You go girl!" :) But seriously, you go girl!
ReplyDeleteGreat job! I would have totally freak out. You look so cool in front of the mic.
ReplyDeletemongs
mythriftycloset.blogspot.com