I WANT TO ACT

Spoken word poetry. The need especially we have to express ourselves beyond what our words say on the page.

 

Do you know want I want to do?

I want to act.

I want to act like there’s no tomorrow.

I want to act out my joy and sorrow.

I want to act on life’s big stage.

I want to be all the rage.

I want to act. I want to act, act, act.

I want to dance, and cry, and scream and sing.

I want ‘to be or not to be’ before you very eyes

and do both at the same time.

I want to walk the stage like a tiger caged

and give a silly laugh to your fears.

I want to sing; sing about life’s rues

with my well paid-for blues

and make you drown in my tears.

I want you, yes you, held in my hands

for an hour, a minute, a moment’s diversion

a pause from reality just as hyenas laugh at lions

and Cheshire cats grin when nothing is funny.

I’m up here, out of the seat next to yours

Here I’ll stand on one hand, or crawl on all four

because I want to act; I wish to be heard.

I need to be seen; I’m something to look at.

And I’ve got a lot to say.

I’m going to step off this stage and walk the floor,

defy you to wonder ‘why does he act like that?’

I’m going to sit right next to you and whisper,

blow poetry-makers dust all over your face,

and dare you to not want to act of yourself; like a fool.

Be the butt of the joke, sometimes like me,

but act! Act! Act! Don’t sit and pretend not to wish.

You know… like I knew … before I finally said it.

I didn’t know before, but now I know what it is:

I Want To Act!’

Reviews

[just rose.]

the ambiguity and myriad meanings of the word "act" here is to me significant. it brings to mind the notion of "all the world's a play ..." is acting distinguished from performing? is the performance life, or a play? and does it matter? i don't think it needs full definition, because the fact remains: the soul that wrote this poem has something important to say, and acting is a way to get it heard. well done!

[Deeply Daisy]

really cocky, in a sort of tongue in cheek way maybe. really enjoyed this. your sense of rhythm is always really easy to follow and fattens out your poems brilliantly.

[PadfootBlack]

Mmmm. LOVE it. Kickass poem, this is. Great job!

[nickchidiac]

I think this is really cool. Its kind of arrogant but in all the right ways, sort of like 'greatest man in the world' by weezer. Cool piece.

[Ed Hart]

well, i'm listening...you got my full attention, and i paid big bucks for this front row seat...i'm all eyes and ears; i want to see you part the waves