Get to Know Them
I began my spoken word journey, a little over two years ago, at age 39, surrounded by friends, an encouraging host and audience, and a live band. I stepped to a mic at a spot called The People’s Café in Atlanta, GA. My right knee shook uncontrollably and I felt a muscle spasm in my chin that refused to go away. Clinging to my huge white binder full of loose papers, I broke the ice with a poem about gettin’ busy in a Burger King restroom. OK, it was over 20 years ago, and my memory likes to embellish events to fit with Digital Underground songs. Maybe we didn’t actually get busy, but we did steal a kiss. I digress.
After that first poem, I shared a very personal piece that speaks on the genocide committed when brothers and sisters sell drugs to their brothers and sisters. I’ll never know for sure if the audience was captivated by my words or by the loose papers spilling to the floor from my binder, unbeknownst to me at the time. What I do know for sure is that I returned to Louisville with a spoken word addiction and I’ve been feeding that addiction with open mics and showcases ever since.
Poetry has opened my world in a way I could have never dreamed. I’ve been blessed with an ever-growing poet family and amazing experiences over the past two years. This column is another one of those amazing experiences.
Louisville has an incredible talent base of spoken word artists, poets, and writers in general. Some of those artists are repping the ‘Ville in other cities with regular features, or even national tours. Some are working in the schools and throughout the community to inspire our kids through the power of words. Others are brand new to the mic and beginning their own poetic journeys. And they all have something to offer…on and “Off the Mic.” Get ready to know them.
