Three years ago, I hopped on a plane to London to go visit my home-girl who was studying abroad. She told me that we were going to hit up this club to listen to some poetry. On a whim, I put together a piece to perform – something I had never done before.
Much to my chagrin, they called me up to read first. I cleared my throat, took a deep breath and dived in. When I was done, the entire room was clapping. Women were teary eyed and dudes were nodding, “this kid’s pretty good.”
Flash-forward five months, and I’m still reeling from all the London Love. So I decide to read the exact same poem at an open mic event in Chicago.
They called my name and I walked confidently to the microphone. I cleared my throat, took a deep breath and dived in. When I was done, it was so quiet you could hear a rat pissing on cotton. The host, realizing I was finished (and mortified), started a loud, phony clap to let everyone know I was done and…well…that they should clap too.
I stepped down off the stage, pulled my Kangol down over my eyes and never wrote/performed a poem ever again.
When I saw ASK debuted a new column called “Poetry Sundays with Stacia,” I grumbled.
Poetry? Really?
Do we have to read this?
But then I realized: I’m bitter. I let an uppity group of faux neo-soulers steal my thunder. Poetry. Spoken word. It’s all great stuff. Maybe it’s time I reopened myself to the possibilities of what a great poem can provide. Inspiration? Clarity? Entertainment?
Poetry Sundays with Stacia: Not sure I’ll love it. Probably won’t hate it. But I’ll definitely read it.
I know one thing, If ASK tumbles for me one more time, I may scream.
Aliya S. King 