I don’t know about you, but I grew up dreading poetry units in my literature classes. Teachers would yammer on about allegory, metaphor, and meter. My eyes would glaze over and I’d be lost. Years later I’ve discovered the root of at least some of my early aversion to poetry: I’m a “doing” learner and I was being taught poetry only through my eyes.
But can
poetry be transformed into an active form? It sure can, and is, right in your
own backyard! Madison is experiencing a surge of poetry open mics, slams, and
other venues in which poets and spoken word artists take to the stage and
engage their audience’s every sense for three to five minutes at a time.
It’s awe-inspiring and lots of fun.
Last summer
I inherited a very lively, monthly, all-chick open mic called SCRAWL. In the
last few months we’ve settled into a regular time slot, 8 pm on second
Saturdays, and location, Java EsCafe at 14 West Mifflin Street. We aim to
create a safe place for word geeks of the female persuasion to share their
passion for a well-turned phrase, a gut-churning diatribe, or a playful haiku.
Andrea Musher, Madison’s Poet Laureate and a neighbor in the
Tenney-Lapham area, has even taken a turn at our mic! And it’s not all
poetry. We’ve also been blessed with the presence of talented storytellers,
singer/songwriters, and actors.
April is
National Poetry Month, so why not celebrate? Drag out that poem of unrequited
love you wrote in high school or air that new piece you’ve been honing.
Join us for SCRAWL, 8pm on April 13, at Java EsCafe. Always free and open to
women, men, girls and boys of all ages.
For more
info about SCRAWL, write scrawlgirl@yahoo.com
or call me at 251‑1861. For a comprehensive guide to Madison’s
poetry scene, including contests, readings, open mics, workshops, and other
related activities, visit www.madpoetry.org.
- A.B. Orlik