Tonight's Poet Corner: Introspection
Okay. So I love spoken word. Have for a long time. I've dabbled in writing poetry that's meant to be performed quite a bit. And today was the first day my high school students began performing their own poetry and speeches in front of their classes.
It was also one of the first time I really performed my own poetry, too.
See, I've done poetry readings before. Back in 2012 and 2013, I made somewhat regular appearances at a local poetry event in my hometown. I was actually called a modern day Dorothy Parker - which is, in fact, a huge compliment. After I moved to San Rafael and started going for my teaching credential, however, I didn't exactly have time to stand in front of a microphone. I hadn't tried memorizing pieces in years. I ultimately settled on more conventional poetry as I delved further and further into my work. And I get that. But one of my New Year's resolutions this year was to go back to performance in some way.
So today was the first step in that direction. I performed, "Trinity," in front of my students - which is pretty intense, by the way. These kids are fifteen to sixteen years old, and they're seeing their teacher just emote to them about religion and sexuality while still maintaining a professional filter around it all. I got a lot of compliments. One student even told me she related both in the Catholic sense and the queer sense, though honestly, she's been through a lot more in sixteen years than I have in twenty-eight. Making myself vulnerable like that was invigorating - and I want to do more of it.
Now, it's funny because my wife is actually not a fan of spoken word, mostly due to the tone and cadence of people's voices when they perform. But right now, it's all I'm really writing. Yeah. Sorry, hon.
I really do want to keep performing. I want to find opportunities at open mike nights to both be open as a poet and as a musician. I miss that side of me. I miss being onstage. I miss memorizing lines and verses. I miss being part of a more musical or theatrical experience. I can't just blame it on living in a new town, either; when I was in my old town from 2013 to 2017, I didn't exactly perform, either. I was busy with school and work and writing. So maybe - just maybe - I can get the ball rolling again.
I had a student record me reciting, "Trinity," but...I'll be honest, I'm not ready to watch it yet. It's not just because I stuttered or stumbled a bit, or I felt like I could have done a lot better. It's just weird to see myself on film like that. Exposed like that. So we'll see if I share it at some point. Stay tuned if you're a friend of mine. I'll let you know.
Whew. Well, that's that, then. I'm at my in-laws' place for the weekend, and I'm going to enjoy myself. Stay lovely, everyone, before I stress about the same old, same old when I'm tackling another yearbook deadline or getting caught on writing ideas.
Have a great night and a great weekend.
It was also one of the first time I really performed my own poetry, too.
See, I've done poetry readings before. Back in 2012 and 2013, I made somewhat regular appearances at a local poetry event in my hometown. I was actually called a modern day Dorothy Parker - which is, in fact, a huge compliment. After I moved to San Rafael and started going for my teaching credential, however, I didn't exactly have time to stand in front of a microphone. I hadn't tried memorizing pieces in years. I ultimately settled on more conventional poetry as I delved further and further into my work. And I get that. But one of my New Year's resolutions this year was to go back to performance in some way.
So today was the first step in that direction. I performed, "Trinity," in front of my students - which is pretty intense, by the way. These kids are fifteen to sixteen years old, and they're seeing their teacher just emote to them about religion and sexuality while still maintaining a professional filter around it all. I got a lot of compliments. One student even told me she related both in the Catholic sense and the queer sense, though honestly, she's been through a lot more in sixteen years than I have in twenty-eight. Making myself vulnerable like that was invigorating - and I want to do more of it.
Now, it's funny because my wife is actually not a fan of spoken word, mostly due to the tone and cadence of people's voices when they perform. But right now, it's all I'm really writing. Yeah. Sorry, hon.
I really do want to keep performing. I want to find opportunities at open mike nights to both be open as a poet and as a musician. I miss that side of me. I miss being onstage. I miss memorizing lines and verses. I miss being part of a more musical or theatrical experience. I can't just blame it on living in a new town, either; when I was in my old town from 2013 to 2017, I didn't exactly perform, either. I was busy with school and work and writing. So maybe - just maybe - I can get the ball rolling again.
I had a student record me reciting, "Trinity," but...I'll be honest, I'm not ready to watch it yet. It's not just because I stuttered or stumbled a bit, or I felt like I could have done a lot better. It's just weird to see myself on film like that. Exposed like that. So we'll see if I share it at some point. Stay tuned if you're a friend of mine. I'll let you know.
Whew. Well, that's that, then. I'm at my in-laws' place for the weekend, and I'm going to enjoy myself. Stay lovely, everyone, before I stress about the same old, same old when I'm tackling another yearbook deadline or getting caught on writing ideas.
Have a great night and a great weekend.
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