Poetry brews at local coffee shop
People descend down the black stairs leading to the basement. Others in the coffee shop continue to lounge in the oversized chairs and couches, reading or catching up on school work. Casually, someone makes the announcement that poetry readings are downstairs and encourages the studious inhabitants of Blackbird to join the crowd.
Amidst the lattes blending and shoes clacking on the floor above, a small crowd gathers in the basement to recite poetry.
Every Wednesday at 8:30, poetry night ensues in the basement of Blackbird. A signup sheet floats around the room and anyone who is inspired to read their own or published works has the opportunity to do so.
Brittany Sansom, a senior creative writing major, plays a dual role as a hostess and a poet. She talked about getting the word out for a bigger turnout each week.
“The spoken word is welcome,” Sansom said. “I’d like to get not only the college kids involved again, but also the locals because they give a different flavor that you just don’t get to see around all college students.”
Five students read their self-composed works with attitude in front of a small, enthusiastic crowd. Spencer Litland a junior English/Creative Writing major wowed the crowd with three of his own poems called: “Ranson,” “While Silence is Piercing” and “Guardian Scars”.
His tone of voice changed dramatically with each poem. “Ranson” held the frantic tone of a middle class person fed up with today’s society. “While Silence is Piercing” gave way to a softer tone of reminiscing on memories past. “Guardian Scars” sounded like the doomsday preacher on his soap box assuring the masses that they will die when the world ends tomorrow.
Christopher Neldon, a senior chemistry major, took on a more lighthearted tone as he approached the stage with a grin. Neldon’s enthusiasm for the chemicals he works with flowed in the form of short limericks. He also read three poems named after a few of his favorite chemicals. “Dichlorodimethyl” came first, followed by “Phenolphthalein” and finally “Maltose Saline.”
Neldon recalls where and why these creations originated.
“I was up late one night after too much caffeine and decided I should write about all of these chemicals,” he said.
Al Corum a senior English/Creative writing major got his inspiration from the rapper Immortal Technique. He recited a poem that reflected his raw dislike for his parents’ neighbor’s unwelcome opinion of his political stance.
Corum read it with a fiery passion. He loudly informed the neighbors that his political views were not just a liberal phase in his college career.
Robert Galyean, a senior literature major, stepped up to the stage with a deeper side to poetry. He read “Sullied by Starlight”, “Aviate” and “The Roach”. The first poem reflected the unspoken shame of humans in an emotionally trapped situation.
He revealed his take on a specific line in the poem.
“The tear speckled tiles in the poem represent the things we never discuss like taboo situations,” Galyean said.
“Aviate” represented the idea of purgatory and watching heaven and hell from a distance. “The Roach” spoke about the process of death from a roach’s perspective in the last moments of life, Galyean said.
Last to read, Sansom captivated the crowd with two of her poems. Her first remained untitled and came to life from an in-class assignment. The lines told of an old world scene in a far off country with a cryptic mysterious feel. The second embodied a more political theme inspired by Pablo Picasso’s controversial painting “Guernica.”
All the poets showed their enthusiasm on the stage and expressed interest in returning each week and bringing friends along next time.
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Oct 3 2008. Filed under Features.
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