I think my dilemma of the past few years in my own work is very much this: that I want to maintain the “performability” of my work, while increasing the space inside it; increasing the detail and particularity of it without creating work that’s so specific that it can’t be understood by anyone except the “inner circle.”
I want sacred space in poems and readings — space where the intent of the audience and the poet combine and mesh in such a way that the expectation for each — to do their best to connect with the work — is the same, and is honored.
I want to be comfortable trusting the audience to follow the poem, not the poet; to not fret about “Did ya get it?” To trust that when I do my job right, the poem will be heard and absorbed even when the space in it is deep, and not immediately accessible to linear analysis and interpretation.
This is not to say, “to hell with accessibility.” Not at all. It’s a reinterpretation of what accessibility means; it’s not leading the audience by the nose, it’s creating a space for shared discovery.
Maybe I want too much.
I do know I don’t find this in slam, not nowadays; the superheated atmosphere in most of them no longer allows for this. I know I’ve heard “new veterans” telling “real newbies” to make sure they fill the three minutes with words; to use every bit of the space in the poem.
I think it’s sad, and silly, and frankly insecure.
It’s a new world I want — bring the excitement and stage values of slam into a poetic school that demands excellence and impact beyond the literal impact of strong words.
I want — I need — strong silence, too.
Dark Matter 
November 10th, 2004 at 9:51 am
But then you don’t get to be a rockstar, and where’s the fun in that? 😛
November 10th, 2004 at 9:51 am
But then you don’t get to be a rockstar, and where’s the fun in that? 😛
November 10th, 2004 at 9:51 am
But then you don’t get to be a rockstar, and where’s the fun in that? 😛
November 10th, 2004 at 9:51 am
But then you don’t get to be a rockstar, and where’s the fun in that? 😛
November 10th, 2004 at 9:51 am
But then you don’t get to be a rockstar, and where’s the fun in that? 😛
November 10th, 2004 at 9:51 am
But then you don’t get to be a rockstar, and where’s the fun in that? 😛
November 10th, 2004 at 9:51 am
But then you don’t get to be a rockstar, and where’s the fun in that? 😛
November 10th, 2004 at 9:51 am
But then you don’t get to be a rockstar, and where’s the fun in that? 😛
November 10th, 2004 at 9:48 am
I don’t slam at all anymore. My choice.
I’m not all that interested in slam improving, or changing direction. It is what it is.
Performance poetry, on the other hand…I separate the two. That’s where my energy lies.
November 10th, 2004 at 9:48 am
I don’t slam at all anymore. My choice.
I’m not all that interested in slam improving, or changing direction. It is what it is.
Performance poetry, on the other hand…I separate the two. That’s where my energy lies.
November 10th, 2004 at 9:48 am
I don’t slam at all anymore. My choice.
I’m not all that interested in slam improving, or changing direction. It is what it is.
Performance poetry, on the other hand…I separate the two. That’s where my energy lies.
November 10th, 2004 at 9:48 am
I don’t slam at all anymore. My choice.
I’m not all that interested in slam improving, or changing direction. It is what it is.
Performance poetry, on the other hand…I separate the two. That’s where my energy lies.
November 10th, 2004 at 9:48 am
I don’t slam at all anymore. My choice.
I’m not all that interested in slam improving, or changing direction. It is what it is.
Performance poetry, on the other hand…I separate the two. That’s where my energy lies.
November 10th, 2004 at 9:48 am
I don’t slam at all anymore. My choice.
I’m not all that interested in slam improving, or changing direction. It is what it is.
Performance poetry, on the other hand…I separate the two. That’s where my energy lies.
November 10th, 2004 at 9:48 am
I don’t slam at all anymore. My choice.
I’m not all that interested in slam improving, or changing direction. It is what it is.
Performance poetry, on the other hand…I separate the two. That’s where my energy lies.
November 10th, 2004 at 9:48 am
I don’t slam at all anymore. My choice.
I’m not all that interested in slam improving, or changing direction. It is what it is.
Performance poetry, on the other hand…I separate the two. That’s where my energy lies.
November 10th, 2004 at 7:33 am
I am surprised that you don’t slam more frequently. Forgive me if my timing has been unsyncronized with your slamming and I don’t know what I’m talking about — but I haven’t seen you slam in ages.
How to put slam in a new direction, if not by participating actively and without reservation?
Of course, by the same token, I don’t slam frequently either. I’m shy. I need to get over that.
November 10th, 2004 at 7:33 am
I am surprised that you don’t slam more frequently. Forgive me if my timing has been unsyncronized with your slamming and I don’t know what I’m talking about — but I haven’t seen you slam in ages.
How to put slam in a new direction, if not by participating actively and without reservation?
Of course, by the same token, I don’t slam frequently either. I’m shy. I need to get over that.
November 10th, 2004 at 7:33 am
I am surprised that you don’t slam more frequently. Forgive me if my timing has been unsyncronized with your slamming and I don’t know what I’m talking about — but I haven’t seen you slam in ages.
How to put slam in a new direction, if not by participating actively and without reservation?
Of course, by the same token, I don’t slam frequently either. I’m shy. I need to get over that.
November 10th, 2004 at 7:33 am
I am surprised that you don’t slam more frequently. Forgive me if my timing has been unsyncronized with your slamming and I don’t know what I’m talking about — but I haven’t seen you slam in ages.
How to put slam in a new direction, if not by participating actively and without reservation?
Of course, by the same token, I don’t slam frequently either. I’m shy. I need to get over that.
November 10th, 2004 at 7:33 am
I am surprised that you don’t slam more frequently. Forgive me if my timing has been unsyncronized with your slamming and I don’t know what I’m talking about — but I haven’t seen you slam in ages.
How to put slam in a new direction, if not by participating actively and without reservation?
Of course, by the same token, I don’t slam frequently either. I’m shy. I need to get over that.
November 10th, 2004 at 7:33 am
I am surprised that you don’t slam more frequently. Forgive me if my timing has been unsyncronized with your slamming and I don’t know what I’m talking about — but I haven’t seen you slam in ages.
How to put slam in a new direction, if not by participating actively and without reservation?
Of course, by the same token, I don’t slam frequently either. I’m shy. I need to get over that.
November 10th, 2004 at 7:33 am
I am surprised that you don’t slam more frequently. Forgive me if my timing has been unsyncronized with your slamming and I don’t know what I’m talking about — but I haven’t seen you slam in ages.
How to put slam in a new direction, if not by participating actively and without reservation?
Of course, by the same token, I don’t slam frequently either. I’m shy. I need to get over that.
November 10th, 2004 at 7:33 am
I am surprised that you don’t slam more frequently. Forgive me if my timing has been unsyncronized with your slamming and I don’t know what I’m talking about — but I haven’t seen you slam in ages.
How to put slam in a new direction, if not by participating actively and without reservation?
Of course, by the same token, I don’t slam frequently either. I’m shy. I need to get over that.
November 10th, 2004 at 7:14 am
Re: Huh.
sometimes it’s matthew, but he’s usually got horns and a pitchfork, and he’s almost always saying, no, it’s cool, go ahead, have another few rounds, what could possibly go wrong?
November 10th, 2004 at 7:14 am
Re: Huh.
sometimes it’s matthew, but he’s usually got horns and a pitchfork, and he’s almost always saying, no, it’s cool, go ahead, have another few rounds, what could possibly go wrong?
November 10th, 2004 at 7:14 am
Re: Huh.
sometimes it’s matthew, but he’s usually got horns and a pitchfork, and he’s almost always saying, no, it’s cool, go ahead, have another few rounds, what could possibly go wrong?
November 10th, 2004 at 7:14 am
Re: Huh.
sometimes it’s matthew, but he’s usually got horns and a pitchfork, and he’s almost always saying, no, it’s cool, go ahead, have another few rounds, what could possibly go wrong?
November 10th, 2004 at 7:14 am
Re: Huh.
sometimes it’s matthew, but he’s usually got horns and a pitchfork, and he’s almost always saying, no, it’s cool, go ahead, have another few rounds, what could possibly go wrong?
November 10th, 2004 at 7:14 am
Re: Huh.
sometimes it’s matthew, but he’s usually got horns and a pitchfork, and he’s almost always saying, no, it’s cool, go ahead, have another few rounds, what could possibly go wrong?
November 10th, 2004 at 7:14 am
Re: Huh.
sometimes it’s matthew, but he’s usually got horns and a pitchfork, and he’s almost always saying, no, it’s cool, go ahead, have another few rounds, what could possibly go wrong?
November 10th, 2004 at 7:14 am
Re: Huh.
sometimes it’s matthew, but he’s usually got horns and a pitchfork, and he’s almost always saying, no, it’s cool, go ahead, have another few rounds, what could possibly go wrong?
November 10th, 2004 at 7:05 am
Huh.
Most people get tiny angels and devils on their shoulders. You get Mike Henry. You might want to get that checked out.
November 10th, 2004 at 7:05 am
Huh.
Most people get tiny angels and devils on their shoulders. You get Mike Henry. You might want to get that checked out.
November 10th, 2004 at 7:05 am
Huh.
Most people get tiny angels and devils on their shoulders. You get Mike Henry. You might want to get that checked out.
November 10th, 2004 at 7:05 am
Huh.
Most people get tiny angels and devils on their shoulders. You get Mike Henry. You might want to get that checked out.
November 10th, 2004 at 7:05 am
Huh.
Most people get tiny angels and devils on their shoulders. You get Mike Henry. You might want to get that checked out.
November 10th, 2004 at 7:05 am
Huh.
Most people get tiny angels and devils on their shoulders. You get Mike Henry. You might want to get that checked out.
November 10th, 2004 at 7:05 am
Huh.
Most people get tiny angels and devils on their shoulders. You get Mike Henry. You might want to get that checked out.
November 10th, 2004 at 7:05 am
Huh.
Most people get tiny angels and devils on their shoulders. You get Mike Henry. You might want to get that checked out.
November 10th, 2004 at 6:33 am
hmm.
just as i was about to say yep, true story, an imaginary and very tiny mike henry appeared on my shoulder and started talking in my ear, saying things like “but jeff, think about the people in our slam who have never been on a team, or who rarely make it out of the first round, and who are in this for different reasons than trying to make a team or go to nationals, and think about what they bring to it, and how they have become part of this years-long conversation we have going on here, and how theyre beloved, and have fans, and how you and a friend might spend some time talking about how much you like this or that poem of theirs, and how you might sometimes get one of their lines stuck in your head,” and that’s all exactly right, so, at least on the local level, at least in our scene, i gotta disagree with the above.
November 10th, 2004 at 6:33 am
hmm.
just as i was about to say yep, true story, an imaginary and very tiny mike henry appeared on my shoulder and started talking in my ear, saying things like “but jeff, think about the people in our slam who have never been on a team, or who rarely make it out of the first round, and who are in this for different reasons than trying to make a team or go to nationals, and think about what they bring to it, and how they have become part of this years-long conversation we have going on here, and how theyre beloved, and have fans, and how you and a friend might spend some time talking about how much you like this or that poem of theirs, and how you might sometimes get one of their lines stuck in your head,” and that’s all exactly right, so, at least on the local level, at least in our scene, i gotta disagree with the above.
November 10th, 2004 at 6:33 am
hmm.
just as i was about to say yep, true story, an imaginary and very tiny mike henry appeared on my shoulder and started talking in my ear, saying things like “but jeff, think about the people in our slam who have never been on a team, or who rarely make it out of the first round, and who are in this for different reasons than trying to make a team or go to nationals, and think about what they bring to it, and how they have become part of this years-long conversation we have going on here, and how theyre beloved, and have fans, and how you and a friend might spend some time talking about how much you like this or that poem of theirs, and how you might sometimes get one of their lines stuck in your head,” and that’s all exactly right, so, at least on the local level, at least in our scene, i gotta disagree with the above.
November 10th, 2004 at 6:33 am
hmm.
just as i was about to say yep, true story, an imaginary and very tiny mike henry appeared on my shoulder and started talking in my ear, saying things like “but jeff, think about the people in our slam who have never been on a team, or who rarely make it out of the first round, and who are in this for different reasons than trying to make a team or go to nationals, and think about what they bring to it, and how they have become part of this years-long conversation we have going on here, and how theyre beloved, and have fans, and how you and a friend might spend some time talking about how much you like this or that poem of theirs, and how you might sometimes get one of their lines stuck in your head,” and that’s all exactly right, so, at least on the local level, at least in our scene, i gotta disagree with the above.
November 10th, 2004 at 6:33 am
hmm.
just as i was about to say yep, true story, an imaginary and very tiny mike henry appeared on my shoulder and started talking in my ear, saying things like “but jeff, think about the people in our slam who have never been on a team, or who rarely make it out of the first round, and who are in this for different reasons than trying to make a team or go to nationals, and think about what they bring to it, and how they have become part of this years-long conversation we have going on here, and how theyre beloved, and have fans, and how you and a friend might spend some time talking about how much you like this or that poem of theirs, and how you might sometimes get one of their lines stuck in your head,” and that’s all exactly right, so, at least on the local level, at least in our scene, i gotta disagree with the above.
November 10th, 2004 at 6:33 am
hmm.
just as i was about to say yep, true story, an imaginary and very tiny mike henry appeared on my shoulder and started talking in my ear, saying things like “but jeff, think about the people in our slam who have never been on a team, or who rarely make it out of the first round, and who are in this for different reasons than trying to make a team or go to nationals, and think about what they bring to it, and how they have become part of this years-long conversation we have going on here, and how theyre beloved, and have fans, and how you and a friend might spend some time talking about how much you like this or that poem of theirs, and how you might sometimes get one of their lines stuck in your head,” and that’s all exactly right, so, at least on the local level, at least in our scene, i gotta disagree with the above.
November 10th, 2004 at 6:33 am
hmm.
just as i was about to say yep, true story, an imaginary and very tiny mike henry appeared on my shoulder and started talking in my ear, saying things like “but jeff, think about the people in our slam who have never been on a team, or who rarely make it out of the first round, and who are in this for different reasons than trying to make a team or go to nationals, and think about what they bring to it, and how they have become part of this years-long conversation we have going on here, and how theyre beloved, and have fans, and how you and a friend might spend some time talking about how much you like this or that poem of theirs, and how you might sometimes get one of their lines stuck in your head,” and that’s all exactly right, so, at least on the local level, at least in our scene, i gotta disagree with the above.
November 10th, 2004 at 6:33 am
hmm.
just as i was about to say yep, true story, an imaginary and very tiny mike henry appeared on my shoulder and started talking in my ear, saying things like “but jeff, think about the people in our slam who have never been on a team, or who rarely make it out of the first round, and who are in this for different reasons than trying to make a team or go to nationals, and think about what they bring to it, and how they have become part of this years-long conversation we have going on here, and how theyre beloved, and have fans, and how you and a friend might spend some time talking about how much you like this or that poem of theirs, and how you might sometimes get one of their lines stuck in your head,” and that’s all exactly right, so, at least on the local level, at least in our scene, i gotta disagree with the above.
November 10th, 2004 at 4:38 am
Slam doesn’t respect losers. They have no impact, overall.
November 10th, 2004 at 4:38 am
Slam doesn’t respect losers. They have no impact, overall.
November 10th, 2004 at 4:38 am
Slam doesn’t respect losers. They have no impact, overall.
November 10th, 2004 at 4:38 am
Slam doesn’t respect losers. They have no impact, overall.
November 10th, 2004 at 4:38 am
Slam doesn’t respect losers. They have no impact, overall.
November 10th, 2004 at 4:38 am
Slam doesn’t respect losers. They have no impact, overall.
November 10th, 2004 at 4:38 am
Slam doesn’t respect losers. They have no impact, overall.
November 10th, 2004 at 4:38 am
Slam doesn’t respect losers. They have no impact, overall.
November 9th, 2004 at 10:35 pm
I don’t know. What about the willingness to lose for the sake of strong silence.
November 9th, 2004 at 10:35 pm
I don’t know. What about the willingness to lose for the sake of strong silence.
November 9th, 2004 at 10:35 pm
I don’t know. What about the willingness to lose for the sake of strong silence.
November 9th, 2004 at 10:35 pm
I don’t know. What about the willingness to lose for the sake of strong silence.
November 9th, 2004 at 10:35 pm
I don’t know. What about the willingness to lose for the sake of strong silence.
November 9th, 2004 at 10:35 pm
I don’t know. What about the willingness to lose for the sake of strong silence.
November 9th, 2004 at 10:35 pm
I don’t know. What about the willingness to lose for the sake of strong silence.
November 9th, 2004 at 10:35 pm
I don’t know. What about the willingness to lose for the sake of strong silence.
November 9th, 2004 at 10:33 pm
strong silence
Nice. Not impossible.
but then, I’m an optimist and not a slam poet.
November 9th, 2004 at 10:33 pm
strong silence
Nice. Not impossible.
but then, I’m an optimist and not a slam poet.
November 9th, 2004 at 10:33 pm
strong silence
Nice. Not impossible.
but then, I’m an optimist and not a slam poet.
November 9th, 2004 at 10:33 pm
strong silence
Nice. Not impossible.
but then, I’m an optimist and not a slam poet.
November 9th, 2004 at 10:33 pm
strong silence
Nice. Not impossible.
but then, I’m an optimist and not a slam poet.
November 9th, 2004 at 10:33 pm
strong silence
Nice. Not impossible.
but then, I’m an optimist and not a slam poet.
November 9th, 2004 at 10:33 pm
strong silence
Nice. Not impossible.
but then, I’m an optimist and not a slam poet.
November 9th, 2004 at 10:33 pm
strong silence
Nice. Not impossible.
but then, I’m an optimist and not a slam poet.
November 9th, 2004 at 9:55 pm
the things we want we have to do
i think you probably know this already. and i agree with you.
but the things we feel we desire from a slam event we ourselves who lament their lack need to bring those things to the stage/table. can’t wait for anyone else to do it. more than likely someone else is waiting and possibly when you/i/we bring the poems, the moments, the performances we most desire then the light will go off somewhere else. soon poets will be saying to themselves, “YES!” i don’t need to be contstrained by the rules of the slam. the rules are there to push against, to stretch, to bend and to break. push against them and give birth to something wonderfully new, or something old drenched in the sweat of fresh attention.
the stage is breathing, we just have to join in.
November 9th, 2004 at 9:55 pm
the things we want we have to do
i think you probably know this already. and i agree with you.
but the things we feel we desire from a slam event we ourselves who lament their lack need to bring those things to the stage/table. can’t wait for anyone else to do it. more than likely someone else is waiting and possibly when you/i/we bring the poems, the moments, the performances we most desire then the light will go off somewhere else. soon poets will be saying to themselves, “YES!” i don’t need to be contstrained by the rules of the slam. the rules are there to push against, to stretch, to bend and to break. push against them and give birth to something wonderfully new, or something old drenched in the sweat of fresh attention.
the stage is breathing, we just have to join in.
November 9th, 2004 at 9:55 pm
the things we want we have to do
i think you probably know this already. and i agree with you.
but the things we feel we desire from a slam event we ourselves who lament their lack need to bring those things to the stage/table. can’t wait for anyone else to do it. more than likely someone else is waiting and possibly when you/i/we bring the poems, the moments, the performances we most desire then the light will go off somewhere else. soon poets will be saying to themselves, “YES!” i don’t need to be contstrained by the rules of the slam. the rules are there to push against, to stretch, to bend and to break. push against them and give birth to something wonderfully new, or something old drenched in the sweat of fresh attention.
the stage is breathing, we just have to join in.
November 9th, 2004 at 9:55 pm
the things we want we have to do
i think you probably know this already. and i agree with you.
but the things we feel we desire from a slam event we ourselves who lament their lack need to bring those things to the stage/table. can’t wait for anyone else to do it. more than likely someone else is waiting and possibly when you/i/we bring the poems, the moments, the performances we most desire then the light will go off somewhere else. soon poets will be saying to themselves, “YES!” i don’t need to be contstrained by the rules of the slam. the rules are there to push against, to stretch, to bend and to break. push against them and give birth to something wonderfully new, or something old drenched in the sweat of fresh attention.
the stage is breathing, we just have to join in.
November 9th, 2004 at 9:55 pm
the things we want we have to do
i think you probably know this already. and i agree with you.
but the things we feel we desire from a slam event we ourselves who lament their lack need to bring those things to the stage/table. can’t wait for anyone else to do it. more than likely someone else is waiting and possibly when you/i/we bring the poems, the moments, the performances we most desire then the light will go off somewhere else. soon poets will be saying to themselves, “YES!” i don’t need to be contstrained by the rules of the slam. the rules are there to push against, to stretch, to bend and to break. push against them and give birth to something wonderfully new, or something old drenched in the sweat of fresh attention.
the stage is breathing, we just have to join in.
November 9th, 2004 at 9:55 pm
the things we want we have to do
i think you probably know this already. and i agree with you.
but the things we feel we desire from a slam event we ourselves who lament their lack need to bring those things to the stage/table. can’t wait for anyone else to do it. more than likely someone else is waiting and possibly when you/i/we bring the poems, the moments, the performances we most desire then the light will go off somewhere else. soon poets will be saying to themselves, “YES!” i don’t need to be contstrained by the rules of the slam. the rules are there to push against, to stretch, to bend and to break. push against them and give birth to something wonderfully new, or something old drenched in the sweat of fresh attention.
the stage is breathing, we just have to join in.
November 9th, 2004 at 9:55 pm
the things we want we have to do
i think you probably know this already. and i agree with you.
but the things we feel we desire from a slam event we ourselves who lament their lack need to bring those things to the stage/table. can’t wait for anyone else to do it. more than likely someone else is waiting and possibly when you/i/we bring the poems, the moments, the performances we most desire then the light will go off somewhere else. soon poets will be saying to themselves, “YES!” i don’t need to be contstrained by the rules of the slam. the rules are there to push against, to stretch, to bend and to break. push against them and give birth to something wonderfully new, or something old drenched in the sweat of fresh attention.
the stage is breathing, we just have to join in.
November 9th, 2004 at 9:55 pm
the things we want we have to do
i think you probably know this already. and i agree with you.
but the things we feel we desire from a slam event we ourselves who lament their lack need to bring those things to the stage/table. can’t wait for anyone else to do it. more than likely someone else is waiting and possibly when you/i/we bring the poems, the moments, the performances we most desire then the light will go off somewhere else. soon poets will be saying to themselves, “YES!” i don’t need to be contstrained by the rules of the slam. the rules are there to push against, to stretch, to bend and to break. push against them and give birth to something wonderfully new, or something old drenched in the sweat of fresh attention.
the stage is breathing, we just have to join in.
November 9th, 2004 at 9:02 pm
Sadly, I just don’t see this ever occurring in an atmosphere that is solely based on time constraints and score cards.
November 9th, 2004 at 9:02 pm
Sadly, I just don’t see this ever occurring in an atmosphere that is solely based on time constraints and score cards.
November 9th, 2004 at 9:02 pm
Sadly, I just don’t see this ever occurring in an atmosphere that is solely based on time constraints and score cards.
November 9th, 2004 at 9:02 pm
Sadly, I just don’t see this ever occurring in an atmosphere that is solely based on time constraints and score cards.
November 9th, 2004 at 9:02 pm
Sadly, I just don’t see this ever occurring in an atmosphere that is solely based on time constraints and score cards.
November 9th, 2004 at 9:02 pm
Sadly, I just don’t see this ever occurring in an atmosphere that is solely based on time constraints and score cards.
November 9th, 2004 at 9:02 pm
Sadly, I just don’t see this ever occurring in an atmosphere that is solely based on time constraints and score cards.
November 9th, 2004 at 9:02 pm
Sadly, I just don’t see this ever occurring in an atmosphere that is solely based on time constraints and score cards.