Experimental Poetry 14: Speak out loud

Poetry is not only textual. It is also spoken word. The oral tradition of story telling through verse has a long history.

Most of my early poetry experiences were either listening to the spoken word, or on stage performing the spoken word of my own poetry. So poetry has a natural affinity with the voice - whether spoken out loud - or the inner voice, inside the mind. All of our poetry derives from our voice. Some of the best poetry I have ever experienced was heard rather than read. Here in the UK there are some awesome living poets, including John Cooper Clarke, Mike Garry and Harry Baker. The spoken word creates ambience, emotion, cadence and inflection way beyond what you might expect to encounter in a printed text. The spoken word takes poetry to the next level.

It would be only natural then, to also create poetry without using a pen, pencil, laptop, quill etc. All of these are human inventions that enable us to make writing more or less permanent. But what if we would instead create our poetry from only the speaking out loud method?

Method 25: Speaking out loud. Here's how it might work: You think of a topic (give it a title), and then begin speaking. It doesn't need to necessarily make sense, rhyme or have any specific direction. Remember my post on stream of consciousness poetry? Simply speak and the words come out. There are some excellent freestyle rappers who can do this at the drop of the hat, but they have had a lot of practice. Don't expect yours to be perfect first time. It won't be. But somewhere in the jumble of utterings and mutterings that emerge, you might find a few lines or phrases that you can develop later into a fully fledged poem. Don't forget to record it as you speak! 

Now that's experimental poetry!

Steve Wheeler

Previous posts in this series

Experimental Poetry 1: Found Poetry
Experimental Poetry 2: Stream of Consciousness
Experimental Poetry 3: Fake Translations
Experimental Poetry 4: Overlapping Voices
Experimental Poetry 5: Random Prompts
Experimental Poetry 6: The Movie Method
Experimental Poetry 7: Unexpected End Rhymes
Experimental Poetry 8: Calligrams
Experimental Poetry 9: Anarchic Poetry
Experimental Poetry 10: Timed Writing
Experimental Poetry 11: Paraphrasing
Experimental Poetry 12: Deliberate Malapropism
Experimental Poetry 13: Breaking Structure

Image from Flickr used under a public domain licence

Behind The Scenes: Live Poets Society

Steve Wheeler’s Live Poets Society has become quite a hit on Facebook, and continues to draw a bigger audience each week. I have hosted a few shows, my favorites with fellow poet colleague and friend Brandon Adam Haven. Brandon being at the helm has given the show even more of a boost with his fluid talent and extensive, yet humble, expertise.

Together, we currently tackle the duties of putting on a quality video poetry broadcast for Invisible Poets, Steve’s show being the flagship of Live Poets Society. Steve named to title as a tongue in cheek nod to the Dead Poets Society movie with Robin Williams. 

Fellow Wheelsong author and alumni Charlene Phare has also enjoyed quite a following with her “No Holds Barred” program of similar tone and content. We can’t wait to see her at it again soon!

Reading of the poems lies within “performing” them… giving them all breath and life… with inflections on key words. 

Reading poems is only a small part of the effort to make this kind of show possible. It is the selection of poems that makes the job a challenge. It starts with allowing for a negligible size, format, and content as Steve pointed out in his last blog. Should you have an interest in being on the show you MUST  check it out in this link… 

 https://wheelsongbooks.blogspot.com/2024/01/how-to-get-your-poem-read-on-live-poets.html?m=1

Promoting the best poets is what we do… only next level poems make it on the show. With the growing number of Invisible Poets Group memebrs on Facebook, we’ve found that it takes two shows to do all the poets justice. I don’t believe any other group that I know of is doing two shows a week of this magnitude on social media. Invisible Poets is becoming a premiere poetry group!

Incorporating humor is also an essential element of this particular show… as Steve has his occasional “cleaners” dropping in… or poet dog barking up a soliloquy. For Brandon and I, it is our rap names of BDizzle and Big Stack, or aliens behind me, or whatever is happening around us. We love to be silly and serious both. It gives the show wings. 

I personally believe if the show is a joy to host, which it really is, then it will be a joy to watch, which it has been for poets and poetry admirers both. 

Please join Brandon and I live on Tuesdays at 8 PM UK & 3 PM USA Eastern Standard time… and catch the mothership with Steve on Fridays at the same respective times. Join us and hear quality poetry done up right.

Matt Elmore

How to get your poem read on Live Poets Society

Live Poets Society is an important element of the Invisible Poets group. It's a live show that goes out every Friday at 8pm (UK time; 3pm EST, US) and draws quite a few viewers. The USA version is hosted by Matt Elmore and Brandon Adam Haven at the same time on Tuesdays. Who knows if there will be other spin offs? 

Some editions of Live Poets Society have been known to attract upwards of 1000 views, and all the poems are selected exclusively from Invisible Poets by the hosts. Poets can gain live feedback from viewers on their work, and it's usually very positive! It's quite a hot ticket to get your poetry read out (actually performed) on one of the shows. Many people understandably ask how they get their Poems read on the shows.

Here are some words of advice:

1) You first need to be a member of Invisible Poets poetry group. Click this link to join us! 

2) Share you poem to the group using plain text. We don't read out poetry that's submitted as images or videos. They're just about impossible to transfer across to the system for reading.

3) Lengthy poems are less likely to be selected. The shows are only 30 minutes long, and we like to read as may as we can in the time available. Keep your poems short and punchy if you can. 

4) This last one is subjective, but important, so listen up. We tend to choose poems that are different and out of the ordinary. Quirky and strange is good, bland ad predictable not so much. If you want to catch our eye, write outside of your comfort zone, make your poetry stand out, make it unusual, and highly visible! Take some risks and see what happens. 

Do not try to circumvent the above by attempting to send your poetry direct to one of the presenters. We tend to ignore this approach. 

I hope this helps those who want their poetry showcased on the shows. We are always on the lookout to add to the playlist! 

NB: If you'd like to learn how to enhance and enliven your poetry, check it all of the instructional posts on this blog. There are plenty!

Steve Wheeler 

Image from PickPic

Finding Your Performance Poetry Voice

When I used to read poems in college coffeehouses, I thought they should be read like a Shakespearian actor, with intense drama that demanded attention. “Foul wretched soul... BE GONE!”… Haha… I’ve come a long way (I hope)! Although this CAN give your words wings, overdoing it can work AGAINST you. This blog is about finding your performance poetry VOICE. 

Your voice as a performance poet carries just as much weight as the poem itself. It’s all that’s between you and the audience, providing the surface on which to drive your message. Your job is to keep it a smooth one. Here are a few important things to remember:

1.) Volume is important first of all. If they can’t hear you, distraction sets in. In public speaking this is known as projection… speaking to the back row and into the peanut gallery above. Let them know you are THERE… going with a soft tone for subtle poems or lines, getting loud for exclamation where it counts.

2.) Inflection follows… it sets the scene for words or phrases. The proper pronunciation is part of this… always being aware of the next word and the next emotion you intend to convey. Inflection, or emphasizing particular passages or words, packs the punch when you need it… or whispers vulnerability or sentiment.

3.) If you use accents, use them sparingly. You can instantly ruin a great reading by donning a fake accent! If properly used, they can be incorporated with great effect in conjunction with the message of the poem. Otherwise, try to avoid them. Be yourself! DO NOT GO OVER THE TOP… it’s a long fall over the edge of over-exuberance! Audiences sense inauthenticity.

4.) Breath is everything. Silence speaks following profound statements that you want to resound within the minds of those listening. A touch of quiet also allows you, as the performer,  to catch your breath and maintain a focus. Breaks are found in music. They are just as effective in poetry.

Volume. Inflection. Proper pronunciation. Tone. Accents. Breath. Breaks. Maintaining focus. These are all effective means to a successful end in taking your poetry on another level to an audience.

Did you enjoy this article? Can you add anything to it? I’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment below and let me know what you think! Thank you for reading and should you get out there performing… shake a leg! Hey… it worked for Elvis…

Matt Elmore

Image from: Unsplash 

Is Poetry Useful In Today's World?

 

How is poetry actually used today? Is it actually relevant, or has it gone the way of tap dancing or having the best yodel?

I believe there is a modern practicality to poetry that stands up to attention once given the proper salute. The poetic craft has become an often overlooked art in today’s society, not to mention entertainment. 

Let us consider the cream of the crop at the very top of acceptable integration of poetry within our modern days… greeting cards! Ah yes… to celebrate birthdays, personify graduations, elevate anniversaries, pay homage to holidays… open the card and therein lies the sentiment! Funny… serious… topical… cards run the gambit of tastes, as does the poetry within.

Tributes and eulogies often strike the same chords don’t they? Honoring one that has aspired to particularly exuberant greatness deserving of particular praise, or even just a loved one that has touched many before passing… poetry dresses the naked truth. Many truths are not hard to accept… yet beautiful words can soften the blow.

I’ve walked many a cemetery behind churches reading old epitaphs etched into broken tombstones. I did this not out of morbid curiosity, but out of an endearing respect for the dead and calm about the grounds. I still seek words that may provide some insight as to who those souls were besides the usual names and dates… though I’ve often found the same phrases on different stones, picked out of a marble chiselers book of hungry bards!

Political speeches have been known to wax poetic idealisms and poignant commonalities, garnering enough sentiment to stir the hearts of the people,… or to even consecrate an occasion. Lincoln’s Gettysburg address remains every bit as timeless and touching to me as the most profound verse.

Performance Poetry stands out as something that is not so well known, but equally as relevant. There are a number of bards that excel at explosive expositions that are not only noteworthy both comically and tragically, but also extremely entertaining as well. Music deserves a note here as well… many poetic songwriters out there today influencing how we think. Radio jingles  jangle advertising in our ear often with catchy phrases or rhymes that reflect creative flows. I’ve seen inner city murals with bits of thoughts that contain amazing poetry that inspire thought just passing by…

Finally… there’s the old books of literature grandpa and grandma hold dear… and some young folks too! Those masters whose words live on in poetry classes from sea to resilient sea… whose works shall never go quietly into the night. When we hear their words… we celebrate next level authors in our hearts… living or otherwise…

Yes… there is a NEED FOR POETRY today that deserves a salute! Have you ever written any of the above? Maybe you have another practical use I haven’t covered? I would love to hear from you. Feel free to share your comments below and thank you for reading! 

Matt Elmore 

Open Mic Poetry Top 10 List

Many working poets take it upon themselves to make a grass roots effort to get out there and work those poems… make them sing. Sell some books. Yet it’s not always easy to translate from the desk to the stage. I’d like to write a bit about this…

The other night I read at a house party. As a published poet…. I am selling my book Constellation Road, as well as the newest Wheelsong Poetry Anthology Three. I thought this was the best way to get some practice in before some coffee houses and library gigs, as well as full fledge street poet style, which is not out of the question. I’d leave that blog to Steve Wheeler for street poets!

The poetry reading was a great success, and I learned some valuable lessons other than lightening the load of my book box.

Stepping out in front of people takes guts. It’s not easy to avoid tripping over your own tongue. Here’s a top ten list to consider before hitting the open mic poetry stage…

                                        —

#1 Be Prepared. 

Know which poems you are going to read and be able to get to them instantly.

#2 Know Where To Place Inflections. 

Performance poetry has its ups and downs in volume, has succinct pronunciations, and intentional breaks…. Know where these are when you read for maximum effect.

#3 Make Eye Contact.

Keeping engaged with your audience keeps them engaged with you.

#4 Be Passionate

Just as you can tell musicians are really into the song and their joy is infectious, tap into this as well. Use your hands! Use your body! Move! Have facial expressions! Express!

#5 Get To The Skinny

Remember you are there to read poems not talk. Maybe a little something something to mention… but stick to the poetry, thank you, and outta there.

#6 No Distractions

Stay focused. Anybody on stage has to react to audience… or not. If you do… keep it short and polite.

#7 Stay Professional

Off color comments can lead you down wrong turn roads real fast…. Stay professional always and you can’t go wrong.

#8 Put Your Books Right In Front Of You

I am very shy about selling things. This was my BIGGEST TAKEAWAY. I didn’t mention I had books for sale. I sold a number of them… near the end of the night! Oops! So… set them out and mention them! 

#9 Pick Your Best

Some poems don’t translate so well as performance pieces while others are fantastic! Choose which ones work for you best.

#10 Have Fun!

Most important… people can tell if you are nervous, yet folks are also moved by confidence. Be proud of yourself, step up there, and have fun with it!

                                       —

Reading your own work can be incredible! I love what I do, and I think it shows best when I am up there in front of folks reading my poetry! It makes all the hard work worth it.

I’d love to hear from you if you’ve done this before and may have something to add , or even just share. Thank you for reading!

Matt Elmore