TAMMY ROBACKER: I’M A PODIUM POET >>>
I admit it. I’m one of those reserved poets who enjoys reading her work at a podium. It’s a comfort thing. I need a place to rest my papers or books. I don’t want to hold the mic or memorize and act out my pieces. I want the mic held for me. I’m low key when I read. Or, sometimes, I just need to lean.
Actually, I never knew I was a podium poet until I attended a Speak Your Soul reading in Tacoma last year. There, I met Gwendolyn Faye â€" a local spoken-word goddess and gifted performance poet. The night I saw her read, she got up on stage with nary a scrap of paper and literally sang/acted/danced her words for the audience. It came out straight from the heart in a glorious, theatrical spectacle. After the performance I approached Gwendolyn and told her I could never do poetry the way she does. While she acknowledged our different stylistic approaches to reading, I felt celebrated anyway. “Tammy, you’re a podium poet,†she said. “And that’s OK.â€
Tacoma’s spoken word group Speak Your Soul features monthly performance flow masters on their stage. But make no mistake, they welcome all wordsmiths â€" even us formal, subdued podium poets. Join SYS every second Friday of the month for an open mic and featured poet invited through SpeakYourSoul.org or the Tacoma community. They begin at 8 p.m. Open mic sign-ups start at 8 p.m. too. It is open to all styles of poetry, especially poems intended to build a better world.
Speak Your Soul tonight
SYS continues its regular second Friday happenings with a performance poetry reading by Zeek Green, with an open mic for all poets and poetry styles tonight from 8-10 p.m. at Urban Grace (902 Market St. in downtown Tacoma). Green is a spoken-word artist, author, longshoreman, husband, father, and activist. For more information about Zeek and to hear his work, visit his Web site. Vanilla Soul will host tonight’s event.
Robert Lashley
Local writer and poet Robert Lashley has been a featured spoken-word artist gracing the Speak Your Soul stage and open mic more often than not. His tour-de-force poems often speak to his experience growing up and living in Tacoma with a raw, powerful and excruciating candor. Take a trip through one of our neighborhoods with him here â€" if you dare.
To The Homeboys Who Ride Bikes Past
The Dope Houses On State Street
By Robert Lashley
although the block is hot, there is no light
young ones make moves, but seldom in the sun
no birds, but birdmen stalking all in sight
no needles, but to all, the damage done
the young ones move among this trap bazaar
among a maddening crowd of chemical means
among rich and poor, the hopeless, the bizarre
leeches yearning to trip the dark obscene
they move among these dens of toxic sprawl
commerce markets of pieces, weight, and heft
and those who give to no one, yet take all
till there’s absolutely nothing to take left
speak of this block? You may, but speak it clear
speak not of youth, there are no children here
I'll bring you more poetry ditties Monday. Have a great weekend.
Poem-A-Tacoma is sponsored by Embellish Multispace Salon in downtown Tacoma.
TAMMY
ROBACKER is a poet and writer living, breathing, typing and spitting
words in Tacoma. She owns a freelance writing and marketing
communications company called Pearle Publications. Her poetry has
appeared in Plazm, Women's Work, The Wild Goose Poetry Review, and the
Allegheny Review. A recent recipient of the 2009/10 TAIP grant, she
will be publishing her first book of poetry, The Vicissitudes, through
the generous support of this funding made possible by the City of
Tacoma and the Tacoma Arts Commission.
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