Today we decided to do performance poetry - or didn't decide as it was thrust upon us. Grace Taylor knows her craft well. I would never know a thing about performance poetry if it was not for her delivering to us a sound knowledge base on how to perform. Some got it well - some naturally - some don't get it nor ever will in a certain way. I can understand why people endure in performance poetry - but it is something I will never go near again. Publicity is the opposite way of where I want to go. I don't even use my real name. Have many pen-names and I plan to keep it that way - even if I do hit the NY bestseller list.
All the same it is interesting in the way that elements such as climatic pauses, high pitches, staring eyes, gestures of grace (no pun intended), volume and language can affect the performance. It was good to learn what I learnt. On the other hand, standing up and performing my pieces (actually for the first time I sat down, made me realize how much I hate my poetry (lies lies, you have always hated your poetry [thus is true]). After reading it out loud for the second time I realize that it would be far more than I can chew. Plus it required an accident.
I decided I would write a new piece, but I don't have the gift for this area of writing at all, and nothing I write is made well for performance. What I write belongs only to the page, it feels completely wrong to say them out loud. Out loud does not work for me at all and makes me want to find the neck of my poems and strangle them with their own pink panther indulged ridiculous tie.
Others performed well, she also performed a piece and was very good - as she should be. I can admire why people do such, but that is as far as it will ever go. I will never enjoy performance poetry unless it is funny. What I really don't like about performance poetry after we watched some famous performance poets is the amount of political propaganda involved. It would be fine if there were facts for all that is said - otherwise a lot of the time it is a bunch of hateful gibberish that makes me want to close off my ears and go listen to a seminar from an 87 year old man that speaks like a desert wind.
This form does not inspire me as it does others. Once I went to a club in the city and saw some performance poets, some were good, some funny. But in general they remind me of lunatics. I have never seen so many people in socks and sandals and jeans - makes you wonder what goes on in their heads up there.
Oh, I am not having a go at anyone, as I do believe some are very good and entertaining and some can hit the right note - but only a few. I will stick to comedians, as performance poets are halfway there - might as well go the whole way.
But it was a very good lesson and I learnt a lot. I am not easily persuaded. Honestly I have been doing poetry all year and would rather write and 10,000 word story than a ten line poem. Poetry isn't my thing, and performance poetry is far from it.
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