Monday, January 16, 2017

Hipsters, Haikus, and Cowboy Boots

I was browsing through Facebook one day, looking for new pages to follow, when I found out about poetry readings. There aren't any readings in Small Town, where people usually hang out at bars, go to football games, or drive around in pickup trucks with Trump stickers and Confederate flag license plates.

I decided to check out one of the readings in a town that was a long drive away, and of course I got caught in a long traffic jam on the way there. It made me think of that R.E.M. video, "Everybody Hurts," where everyone is sitting in their cars in the middle of a traffic jam and thinking to themselves.




I sat in my car during that traffic jam and thought, "I'm only doing this for the poetry."

I was a half hour late to the poetry reading, but I went anyway. One woman sang a couple songs that made me think of Phoebe Buffay's songs on Friends, because the lyrics were weird, but her voice was much nicer than Phoebe's. I spoke to a few of the poets after the reading, and they were really nice; they told me about other readings in the area, which I decided to go to.

Like the first reading, the second reading was full of hipsters dressed in dark clothes. (I did see at least one poet dressed in a cowboy hat and boots, because this is the South, after all.) One woman read what she called a "bisexual haiku." Several people literally snapped their fingers instead of clapping at the end of each poem.

I was still recovering from the flu (I basically coughed through my entire winter break, and I'm still coughing, which is why I haven't been blogging much), and I resisted the urge to cough and laugh at the same time. It reminded me of the time I went to a reading in Chicago, where I didn't know until after I got there that the theme of that night's stories was "Sluts".

During both readings, I thought to myself, "This is so weird. And yet...I'm intrigued." Even though I didn't understand some of the poems, I enjoyed listening to people read them. It was encouraging to know that in spite of the fact that the walking definition of "narcissism" is about to be elected President and the new neighbors who moved in next door hung up a big Trump sign in their window (I really want to put Clinton stickers on their pickup trucks), there are a lot of people out there, writing.

The readings inspired me to go home and work on my own writing, which I've sadly been neglecting. It motivated me to send out a short story I wrote to a writing contest hosted by Writer's Digest, which I also found out about through Facebook.

It also made me want to read my own writing in front of other people, which I haven't done before, except in writing classes. The other poets told me about open mic nights where you can sign up to read whatever you want, even if it's not poetry. Maybe I could read something I wrote, even though the thought of seeing people react to my writing in person freaks me out just a little bit (OK, a lot).

What about you? Have you ever read any of your work at an open mic night or a poetry reading?

16 comments:

  1. I've always wanted to go to a poetry reading. I have heard that the thing to do is to snap your fingers. Awesome theme for your first poetry reading. ;P

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    1. I know, right? When I went to that first reading I almost walked right back out once I heard the theme, but I'm glad I stayed.

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  2. I never heard of the snapping fingers thing! I don't think I could do that with a straight face.
    I used to work at a bookstore and we did a couple poetry readings in the cafe and a lot of the staff took part. It was actually a lot of fun but I think I would be scared to do it in front of only strangers.

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    1. Hi Sarah,
      I've seen "beatniks" on TV wearing black and snapping their fingers, but I never saw it in real life. I am scared to read in front of strangers, but I think I'd be more scared to read in front of people I know. At least with the strangers I'd never have to see them again if they didn't like what I wrote.

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  3. Congrats! I have my fingers crossed for the contest. Good for you for going out to the poetry readings. I think it's great you want to start writing again and even share some of it. You are so brave and I take my hat off to you. @017 is definitely starting out great for you;)

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    1. Hi Murees,
      I don't think I'll win the contest (though it would be awesome if I did), but it still made me feel good to at least send out a story; it's been a long time since I've done that. I feel better when I'm writing; when I'm not writing it always feels like something is missing.

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  4. Glad you found a good use for Facebook ;-)

    That snapping fingers thing is weird - definitely smacks of being 'too cool' and 'too hipster'. Good luck with the contest - you have to be in it to win it :-)

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    1. Hi Annalisa,
      The readings were full of hipsters, and I wondered if they would recoil if I revealed my Britney Spears playlists. :) That contest made me want to seek out other contests; I just wish that so many of them didn't have "entry fees", which I can't afford.

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  5. When I think of poetry readings, I think of Mike Myers in "So I Married an Axe Murderer." But I do know what you mean. There is something about knowing that people are writing and doing their thing that is really inspiring.

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    1. Hi Jenny,
      I'm sorry I didn't respond sooner; I've been so bad about blogging lately. I haven't seen that movie, but the image of Mike Myers at a poetry reading sounds funny. I want to watch it now. :) It is nice to know that people are out there writing, especially when it seems like so many other people associate "writing" with texting or Facebook posts.

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  6. Very cool--getting out like that. Way to go! I have read my stuff live in front of people, but not for many years. I guess that's what comes of being a shut in with kids, eh? It'll be fun to get out and be social again one day.

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    1. Hi Crystal,
      The open mic night that I want to read at is tonight, and I'm so nervous! I've never read my writing in front of an audience like that, except in writing classes. Part of me is tempted not to do it, but I know I'll regret it more if I don't do it.

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  7. Good luck in the contest!
    I went to a few open mike nights back in school -- was I brave or what? I don't think I'd have the guts to do it now. Well, maybe, actually, if I eased back into writing poetry. I miss writing poetry.
    How great that they inspired you to pick up your own writing again!

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    1. Hi Deniz,
      Thanks! I wish I could have been there to see you read at the open mic night! I used to write poems when I was a kid, but I like writing prose better now.

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