Nuyorican Night

A spoken word poem based on a performance at the Nuyorican Poets Café.

Does spoken word

Become broken word?

NO!

I find that the words I want to design

Are like turning liqueform water into wine,

A process of the divine.

Yet I may need a divining rod,

Possibly given to me by God to

Transliterate these fluid thoughts

That conflagrate in my mental

State, on a paperless page, so they can

Solidly perform upon the stage

Of the Nuyorican...

Yes, I'm speakin'! 

But internally wreakin'

That havoc'll break through my clavicle!

Tryin' to release this emotion

Upon you, the audience. 

Now I oughta sense that

with suspense, I can

Intensely feel verbs that are

Dispensed into the atmosphere.

But you need to know this - that most fear

Is the absence of love...

Love that channels the spirit through

The Poets Cafe, halfway, and

Then completely, but discreetly, it

Travels into the mind

Pathways of each audience

Listener...

The envisioners

Of the poetic word,

Stirred by energy, kinetic

To arise from their slumber

Anesthetic!

We are beings of

Thunder, in this 

Biogenic skeleton, but

The hell it's in

Is not 

Real.

Photo Credit: David Shankbone

Copyright: 2008 Wikimedia Commons

Author's Note

The Nuyorican Poets Cafe is a place in NY's East Village (founded in 1973) that features poetry, theater, music, and visual art pieces.

Reviews

[Worth_A_Wink]

For me, writing spoken word is still a work in progress so I can certainly relate to being, as you so wonderfully put it, "Stirred by energy, kinetic/To arise from their slumber/Anesthetic."

After hearing a performance or reading a written piece like this one, there is always such an energy that it's impossible not to feel motivated or inspired.

Well done.

;)

[Eric Pudalov]

I'm so touched that I help inspire you, Wink! If you write a piece like this, I'd love to read it!!!

[Frieda P]

Very cool read, I'd love to hear you recite this one....adore that last stanza, it's all really good!

[Eric Pudalov]

Thank you Frieda! If there were some kind of video feed at WC, I definitely would...I like performing almost as much as I like writing itself!!

[Frieda P]

What about youtube...then you could link it? My pleasure!

[Eric Pudalov]

I should do that! I'll make a recording - thanks for the idea!!! WOO HOO!

[Frieda P]

Anytime, let me know when you upload it....

[Eric Pudalov]

I sure will! Still rehearsing...

[RichGee]

The flow is rockin! You can feel the vibe
From the first stanza...I love this piece.
Big up to the Nuyorican Poets Cafe!

[Eric Pudalov]

Yeah, baby!! Have you been there? It's an awesome place, and great way to meet other poets (like here)!

[RichGee]

For sure...I've preformed my spoken word there many times...
It's been difficult to allocate time for that nowadays because of my marriage, kids and
A new business but I try to get there every so often...

[Rita L. Sev]

Does spoken word
Become broken word?

I love the flow of this piece, absolutely can "hear" it being spoken aloud with a great rhythm and intensity. The opening query makes me think of this, from Emily Dickinson: "A word is dead - when it is said - some say. I say it just begins to live that day."

[Eric Pudalov]

Thank you Rita!! I'll have to check out the Emily Dickinson work...she's a big influence of mine, as a matter of fact.

[Baby Ricochet]

Some good rhymes here. Rather rap like. Good job sir!

[Eric Pudalov]

Thanks Ricochet! When I think of spoken word, I'm reminded of rap. Hope to read more of yours soon too.