I’m a bad poetry groupie.

I left the Youth Slam tonight at the beginning of the second round; which means I never got to see Sage’s feature, although we did speak briefly and I apologized to him before I left.

I did see him last month, so I don’t feel too bad.

I am finding slams more and more difficult to sit through. My heckling, which is usually gentle and fairly and equitably delivered (I think), felt really edgy to me tonight. I knew I had to go. I was on the verge of embarrassing myself.

I am losing my taste for the entire scene.

More and more, I just want to hear good poems read well to a crowd that can appreciate and reward good work as is merited, while still being respectful of the voices of those who need to speak without being great poets.

I don’t feel that in slams anymore.

Maybe I’m just getting old and jaded. Maybe I’m just old.

I know I have moved beyond this. And I hate that, at least for tonight.

__________________________________________________________________________

More thought has revealed to me a more succinct description of what I miss in slams, and what I want more of these days: a sense of sacred space.

__________________________________________________________________________

As for election news:

— Only vote if you have a clue what you’re doing. I’m not a person who believes you should exercise a privilege you don’t earn by preparing yourself.

— I hope my sense of dread is just indigestion.

— For the record, I voted already as an absentee voter. And I voted Green.

About Tony Brown

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A poet with a history in slam, lots of publications; my personal poetry and a little bit of daily life and opinions. Read the page called "About..." for the details. View all posts by Tony Brown

36 responses to “I’m a bad poetry groupie.

  • seracy

    Slams feel like mosh pits to me. They’re like haunted houses that you go into anyways, knowing that you’re going to get disjointed.

    I think the problem for me is the crowds- how large they are and how people try to please them. I know I’m reiderating what others have said, but it seems like it’s about pleasing the crowd now, instead of speaking your mind.

    I can’t say I remember a time when it wasn’t like that, because honestly, I have never seen one.

  • seracy

    Slams feel like mosh pits to me. They’re like haunted houses that you go into anyways, knowing that you’re going to get disjointed.

    I think the problem for me is the crowds- how large they are and how people try to please them. I know I’m reiderating what others have said, but it seems like it’s about pleasing the crowd now, instead of speaking your mind.

    I can’t say I remember a time when it wasn’t like that, because honestly, I have never seen one.

  • seracy

    Slams feel like mosh pits to me. They’re like haunted houses that you go into anyways, knowing that you’re going to get disjointed.

    I think the problem for me is the crowds- how large they are and how people try to please them. I know I’m reiderating what others have said, but it seems like it’s about pleasing the crowd now, instead of speaking your mind.

    I can’t say I remember a time when it wasn’t like that, because honestly, I have never seen one.

  • seracy

    Slams feel like mosh pits to me. They’re like haunted houses that you go into anyways, knowing that you’re going to get disjointed.

    I think the problem for me is the crowds- how large they are and how people try to please them. I know I’m reiderating what others have said, but it seems like it’s about pleasing the crowd now, instead of speaking your mind.

    I can’t say I remember a time when it wasn’t like that, because honestly, I have never seen one.

  • seracy

    Slams feel like mosh pits to me. They’re like haunted houses that you go into anyways, knowing that you’re going to get disjointed.

    I think the problem for me is the crowds- how large they are and how people try to please them. I know I’m reiderating what others have said, but it seems like it’s about pleasing the crowd now, instead of speaking your mind.

    I can’t say I remember a time when it wasn’t like that, because honestly, I have never seen one.

  • seracy

    Slams feel like mosh pits to me. They’re like haunted houses that you go into anyways, knowing that you’re going to get disjointed.

    I think the problem for me is the crowds- how large they are and how people try to please them. I know I’m reiderating what others have said, but it seems like it’s about pleasing the crowd now, instead of speaking your mind.

    I can’t say I remember a time when it wasn’t like that, because honestly, I have never seen one.

  • seracy

    Slams feel like mosh pits to me. They’re like haunted houses that you go into anyways, knowing that you’re going to get disjointed.

    I think the problem for me is the crowds- how large they are and how people try to please them. I know I’m reiderating what others have said, but it seems like it’s about pleasing the crowd now, instead of speaking your mind.

    I can’t say I remember a time when it wasn’t like that, because honestly, I have never seen one.

  • seracy

    Slams feel like mosh pits to me. They’re like haunted houses that you go into anyways, knowing that you’re going to get disjointed.

    I think the problem for me is the crowds- how large they are and how people try to please them. I know I’m reiderating what others have said, but it seems like it’s about pleasing the crowd now, instead of speaking your mind.

    I can’t say I remember a time when it wasn’t like that, because honestly, I have never seen one.

  • stefan11

    I think you want out of poetry to be sharing a crtain kind of experience, the experience od the devine.

    I wonder why slams do not have it, or do not have it for you…

    A friend of mine and I were watching 2000 slam DVD. He said that he would like to hear more poems about flying kites . . .

  • stefan11

    I think you want out of poetry to be sharing a crtain kind of experience, the experience od the devine.

    I wonder why slams do not have it, or do not have it for you…

    A friend of mine and I were watching 2000 slam DVD. He said that he would like to hear more poems about flying kites . . .

  • stefan11

    I think you want out of poetry to be sharing a crtain kind of experience, the experience od the devine.

    I wonder why slams do not have it, or do not have it for you…

    A friend of mine and I were watching 2000 slam DVD. He said that he would like to hear more poems about flying kites . . .

  • stefan11

    I think you want out of poetry to be sharing a crtain kind of experience, the experience od the devine.

    I wonder why slams do not have it, or do not have it for you…

    A friend of mine and I were watching 2000 slam DVD. He said that he would like to hear more poems about flying kites . . .

  • stefan11

    I think you want out of poetry to be sharing a crtain kind of experience, the experience od the devine.

    I wonder why slams do not have it, or do not have it for you…

    A friend of mine and I were watching 2000 slam DVD. He said that he would like to hear more poems about flying kites . . .

  • stefan11

    I think you want out of poetry to be sharing a crtain kind of experience, the experience od the devine.

    I wonder why slams do not have it, or do not have it for you…

    A friend of mine and I were watching 2000 slam DVD. He said that he would like to hear more poems about flying kites . . .

  • stefan11

    I think you want out of poetry to be sharing a crtain kind of experience, the experience od the devine.

    I wonder why slams do not have it, or do not have it for you…

    A friend of mine and I were watching 2000 slam DVD. He said that he would like to hear more poems about flying kites . . .

  • radioactiveart

    That would be a whole column…and since I’m looking for ideas to close it out, thank you. 😉

    But what I want out of poetry is a sharing of experience. A sense of connection among those present in which the audience sits there and says, “Yes, I know that, I am that, he/she is speaking for me…”

    I don’t get that at slams anymore. I get show, and entertainment, and acclaim…but I don’t get that.

    Mostly, what I get is bored.

    Poetry IS my spiritual practice. I want to go to church. Sometimes I want a gospel church, sometimes I want a Quaker meeting.

  • radioactiveart

    That would be a whole column…and since I’m looking for ideas to close it out, thank you. 😉

    But what I want out of poetry is a sharing of experience. A sense of connection among those present in which the audience sits there and says, “Yes, I know that, I am that, he/she is speaking for me…”

    I don’t get that at slams anymore. I get show, and entertainment, and acclaim…but I don’t get that.

    Mostly, what I get is bored.

    Poetry IS my spiritual practice. I want to go to church. Sometimes I want a gospel church, sometimes I want a Quaker meeting.

  • radioactiveart

    That would be a whole column…and since I’m looking for ideas to close it out, thank you. 😉

    But what I want out of poetry is a sharing of experience. A sense of connection among those present in which the audience sits there and says, “Yes, I know that, I am that, he/she is speaking for me…”

    I don’t get that at slams anymore. I get show, and entertainment, and acclaim…but I don’t get that.

    Mostly, what I get is bored.

    Poetry IS my spiritual practice. I want to go to church. Sometimes I want a gospel church, sometimes I want a Quaker meeting.

  • radioactiveart

    That would be a whole column…and since I’m looking for ideas to close it out, thank you. 😉

    But what I want out of poetry is a sharing of experience. A sense of connection among those present in which the audience sits there and says, “Yes, I know that, I am that, he/she is speaking for me…”

    I don’t get that at slams anymore. I get show, and entertainment, and acclaim…but I don’t get that.

    Mostly, what I get is bored.

    Poetry IS my spiritual practice. I want to go to church. Sometimes I want a gospel church, sometimes I want a Quaker meeting.

  • radioactiveart

    That would be a whole column…and since I’m looking for ideas to close it out, thank you. 😉

    But what I want out of poetry is a sharing of experience. A sense of connection among those present in which the audience sits there and says, “Yes, I know that, I am that, he/she is speaking for me…”

    I don’t get that at slams anymore. I get show, and entertainment, and acclaim…but I don’t get that.

    Mostly, what I get is bored.

    Poetry IS my spiritual practice. I want to go to church. Sometimes I want a gospel church, sometimes I want a Quaker meeting.

  • radioactiveart

    That would be a whole column…and since I’m looking for ideas to close it out, thank you. 😉

    But what I want out of poetry is a sharing of experience. A sense of connection among those present in which the audience sits there and says, “Yes, I know that, I am that, he/she is speaking for me…”

    I don’t get that at slams anymore. I get show, and entertainment, and acclaim…but I don’t get that.

    Mostly, what I get is bored.

    Poetry IS my spiritual practice. I want to go to church. Sometimes I want a gospel church, sometimes I want a Quaker meeting.

  • radioactiveart

    That would be a whole column…and since I’m looking for ideas to close it out, thank you. 😉

    But what I want out of poetry is a sharing of experience. A sense of connection among those present in which the audience sits there and says, “Yes, I know that, I am that, he/she is speaking for me…”

    I don’t get that at slams anymore. I get show, and entertainment, and acclaim…but I don’t get that.

    Mostly, what I get is bored.

    Poetry IS my spiritual practice. I want to go to church. Sometimes I want a gospel church, sometimes I want a Quaker meeting.

  • stefan11

    “what I miss in slams, and what I want more of these days: a sense of sacred space.”

    Can you elaborate, please?

  • stefan11

    “what I miss in slams, and what I want more of these days: a sense of sacred space.”

    Can you elaborate, please?

  • stefan11

    “what I miss in slams, and what I want more of these days: a sense of sacred space.”

    Can you elaborate, please?

  • stefan11

    “what I miss in slams, and what I want more of these days: a sense of sacred space.”

    Can you elaborate, please?

  • stefan11

    “what I miss in slams, and what I want more of these days: a sense of sacred space.”

    Can you elaborate, please?

  • stefan11

    “what I miss in slams, and what I want more of these days: a sense of sacred space.”

    Can you elaborate, please?

  • stefan11

    “what I miss in slams, and what I want more of these days: a sense of sacred space.”

    Can you elaborate, please?

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