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On Poetry Readings

Posted by HaiAnh on January 20, 2008 - 12:10
from the ABC set Stretches

In the early 19th Century, before SMS and Spoken Word, academics wrote earth-shattering essays ‘On’ their subjects. Unlike the frivolous, easily-forgotten, performance poem I have written without even having to do a bibliography.

On Poetry Readings

It doesn’t matter if you get nervous
before or miss a line. Have Rum, relax,
because most people aren’t listening
and some are looking at your chest.

When the compare said poetry,
they thought yaah, poetry, yaah,
the bar, mm, JD and lemonade,
salted nuts, snooker, Jessica Alba.

They wonder about your bra,
when the band is coming on,
your name, sweat, your shoes,
eggs in a birds nest.

Then they laugh, because we all are.
Say yes, wasn’t she just!
The one about the typewriter,
marvellous, poetry, yaah, poetry.

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Discuss this piece in the abctales forum


Comments

markbrown | January 21, 2008 - 13:34

I really like this.

Particularly:

They wonder about your bra,
when the band is coming on,
your name, sweat, your shoes,
eggs in a birds nest.

There never really seems to be anyone enjoying themselves that much at poetry readings, does there? There are the other performers looking serious and poets willing themselves to enjoy themselves and everyone else shuffling like kids in assembly.

Cheers,

Mark

HaiAnh | January 22, 2008 - 17:30

Too true. Thank you Mark. I'm doing a poetry reading next week and I am going to read this one to let them know that I am very aware that they're not listening. Which will be completely pointless if they're really not listening.

tcook | January 23, 2008 - 12:01

Where's the reading? Let us know - put it on the Noticeboard in the forums so that some ABCtalers can come along!

Sooz006 | February 3, 2008 - 12:24

Lol, would love to be there, I admit this one would probably pull me out of my vodka and make me take notice before going back to eyeing up the long haired fella, two tables in front.

HaiAnh | February 11, 2008 - 19:55

shink! Just checked this poem and found new comments - the reading has passed - the audience forgave me insulting them and laughed along with this one. I saved it until last just in case though!