1 (edited by Peatle Jville 2021-03-02 03:42:57)

Topic: First Time Up

I received a video of the last poem Easybeat  did at a live poem reading sent to me by one of the audience. He had to read poems of his published in a book. Here is a poem  I just wrote about that.
                             First Time Up

Many forget how significant they are.

No matter what path life deals.

Or how it feels.

Every story told has a lesson.

Good bad sad.

It takes a book with two of his poems.

Spoken in a bar.

First time ever.

In front of a crowd.

He picks up his lines.

Spoken in short time.

Lines about a significant part of his lifetime.

His words can make their choice of liquid just another spectator.

Not an important player in the game they thought they came to play.

Liquid wetting their whistles and opening their ears.

Maybe those listening  haven’t been there.

Until now his life experience wasn't theirs.

It wasn’t part of their time.

Now it is.

In a small part of an hour.

You wont hear a pin drop.

His words have power.

A magnet.

A fishing net.

Fishing net made of words.

Drawing his audience into his boat. 

The silence is broken when his voice stops.

Their palms connect beating a rhythmic thanks.

Out of their mouths come cheers of approval.

Re: First Time Up

Poetry about a poet - how poetic!

I like the way you describe  the "fishing net made of words drawing his audience into his boat".     

I want to read my own water, choose my own path, write my own songs

Re: First Time Up

My goodness Pete you captured that all so well,brilliantly written.
you left out the part about trepidation and knocking knees.
a big pat on the back to those of you  who perform live,i don`t know how you do it.     

The King Of Audio Torture

Re: First Time Up

Pete, you could catch a moment in your palm and make it interesting and significant. I only saw about 18 seconds of Brians recital and the ovation he received and I believe you would be honoured likewise if you took part in one of these gigs.
Congrats to you both, I'm proud to say I am your friend. I am you friend ...right?     

Ask not what Chordie can do for you, but what you can do for Chordie.

Re: First Time Up

Peatle

Excellent !

I quite agree with Ken   that line is superbly brilliant !!

"His words have power.

A magnet.

A fishing net.

Fishing net made of words.

Drawing his audience into his boat.  "

Way to go my friend !
Jim     

Your vision is not limited by what your eye can see, but what your mind can imagine.
Make your life count, and the world will be a better place because you tried.

"Use the talents you possess, for the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except only the the best." - Henry Van Dyke

Re: First Time Up

Peatle

Excellent !

I quite agree with Ken   that line is superbly brilliant !!

"His words have power.

A magnet.

A fishing net.

Fishing net made of words.

Drawing his audience into his boat.  "

Way to go my friend !
Jim     

Your vision is not limited by what your eye can see, but what your mind can imagine.
Make your life count, and the world will be a better place because you tried.

"Use the talents you possess, for the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except only the the best." - Henry Van Dyke

Re: First Time Up

Peatle

Excellent !

I quite agree with Ken   that line is superbly brilliant !!

"His words have power.

A magnet.

A fishing net.

Fishing net made of words.

Drawing his audience into his boat.  "

Way to go my friend !
Jim     

Your vision is not limited by what your eye can see, but what your mind can imagine.
Make your life count, and the world will be a better place because you tried.

"Use the talents you possess, for the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except only the the best." - Henry Van Dyke

Re: First Time Up

Dirty Ed wrote:

Poetry about a poet - how poetic!

I like the way you describe  the "fishing net made of words drawing his audience into his boat".

Cheers Ken  I am not that poetic with words but I hope at least the words I use paint an entertaining  picture of what is happening in that place and time.     

Re: First Time Up

easybeat wrote:

My goodness Pete you captured that all so well,brilliantly written.
you left out the part about trepidation and knocking knees.
a big pat on the back to those of you  who perform live,i don`t know how you do it.

Brian now you have had your poetry performance baptism it will come as just another thing you do. You have always been a natural showman in public. I can see you and Nigel becoming renowned  performance poets.     

Re: First Time Up

Phill Williams wrote:

Pete, you could catch a moment in your palm and make it interesting and significant. I only saw about 18 seconds of Brians recital and the ovation he received and I believe you would be honoured likewise if you took part in one of these gigs.
Congrats to you both, I'm proud to say I am your friend. I am you friend ...right?

Thank you Phill your a good man and I am proud to call you my friend.     

Re: First Time Up

TIGLJK wrote:

Peatle

Excellent !

I quite agree with Ken   that line is superbly brilliant !!

"His words have power.

A magnet.

A fishing net.

Fishing net made of words.

Drawing his audience into his boat.  "

Way to go my friend !
Jim

Thank you Jim there is an old proverb that  goes something like this, “A fish caught in the net starts to think.” I am sure Brian’s net made of words would have got the audience thinking.
Good health to you and your family.     

Re: First Time Up

Sounds like that first time at a poetry slam/ open mic.  I loved being up there. Espically when I got leaughs where I wanted them to be and people actually paying attention me.  Great poem.     

“Find your own sound.  Dont be a second rateYngwie Malmsteen be a first rate you”

– George Lynch 2013 (Dokken, Lynchmob, KXM, Tooth & Nail etc....)

Re: First Time Up

beamer wrote:

Sounds like that first time at a poetry slam/ open mic.  I loved being up there. Espically when I got leaughs where I wanted them to be and people actually paying attention me.  Great poem.

I agree Beamer it is a  very empowering feeling when you have the audience responding at the right times. Hearing the audience  laughter at my funny bits is one of the best feelings in the world.     

Re: First Time Up

Morcomb and Wise had a joke that went something like; two old men on the beach one says "nice out ain't it?" The other replies "well put it away people are looking!"
Moral...I'd be worried if people laughed at my "funny" bits...lololol

Yea, got that out of my system. When I played gigs I used to love it when people danced or sang along, laughed when I cracked a joke or clapped when I finished a song...aaahhh the good old days!

Before anyone says it...I never got pelted with rotten fruit     

Ask not what Chordie can do for you, but what you can do for Chordie.

Re: First Time Up

Phill Williams wrote:

Morcomb and Wise had a joke that went something like; two old men on the beach one says "nice out ain't it?" The other replies "well put it away people are looking!"
Moral...I'd be worried if people laughed at my "funny" bits...lololol

Yea, got that out of my system. When I played gigs I used to love it when people danced or sang along, laughed when I cracked a joke or clapped when I finished a song...aaahhh the good old days!

Before anyone says it...I never got pelted with rotten fruit

Good one Phill your post  got my imagination going.  A picture appeared in my head of an audience of little old ladies with their theatre binoculars trying to see my funny bits.     

Re: First Time Up

Peatle Jville wrote:
Phill Williams wrote:

Morcomb and Wise had a joke that went something like; two old men on the beach one says "nice out ain't it?" The other replies "well put it away people are looking!"
Moral...I'd be worried if people laughed at my "funny" bits...lololol

Yea, got that out of my system. When I played gigs I used to love it when people danced or sang along, laughed when I cracked a joke or clapped when I finished a song...aaahhh the good old days!

Before anyone says it...I never got pelted with rotten fruit

Good one Phill your post  got my imagination going.  A picture appeared in my head of an audience of little old ladies with their theatre binoculars trying to see my funny bits.

All equipped with peashooters loaded with Viagra pills no doubt?     

Ask not what Chordie can do for you, but what you can do for Chordie.

17 (edited by Peatle Jville 2021-03-05 23:00:38)

Re: First Time Up

Good one Phill here is a bit of a freestyle reply.

Viagra a gift from his groupie.
After the show.
And a long  walk in the snow.
After a snore and something more.
He left while letting her cat in the door.
He had more than he bargained for.
A little gift.
Given to her by another sir.
That made her pussy purr.
It was a trap.
Made for a rat.
Leaving him with the clap
In a 13th-century French clapoire  way.
His doctor without compassion looked at him.
With a big dislike for modern passion.
loudly taught, teenage fashion was made for vermin.
Muttered a  sermon on the wages of sin.
Telling his patient about silly places a man shouldn't have bin.
That was her price.
She made you pay.
For a roll in the hay.

Re: First Time Up

Pete, I was about half way down your poem with a mouthful of custard when I read that line, and I'm afraid I made a mess on my screen with yellow mattered custard conforming to the laws of gravity and pooling on my desk and (hopefully) plucking the strings of invention, here goes;

her eyes were somewhat cloudy
and just like the stars her teeth came out at night
her underwear was always ironed to perfection
and only rarely did they see her passions flight
she sat amongst her widowed friends
drinking slowly to make their pension last
but tonight emboldened by the artistes smile
the G&T kept sinking fast.
ambition quarreled with her pride
her cheeks were all aglow
this strangers smile and lustful glance
took her back to teenage years once more.
soon the show was over
the artist said "goodnight"
younger women crowded round
she knew she'd have a fight.
hair and claws and screams and slaps
her age and knowledge won the day
she looked around for her spoils of war
but the swine had run away.     

Ask not what Chordie can do for you, but what you can do for Chordie.

Re: First Time Up

Peatle and Phill

I was admiring how clever you boys are...... and then

I looked at the title of this post....  that's when I lost it -if i had been eating custard - it would have been a mess as well
too funny !!

Jim     

Your vision is not limited by what your eye can see, but what your mind can imagine.
Make your life count, and the world will be a better place because you tried.

"Use the talents you possess, for the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except only the the best." - Henry Van Dyke

Re: First Time Up

Hi Jim. I read Pete's poem and I thought I'd try and write something "on the fly" as Pete did. It came out from the perspective of the lady. I'd forgotten the title of the thread and we'd taken a tangent from the theme. Once I had the first line the rest flowed. I had no idea where it was heading but I think it came out well? Maybe it was because of some events from my performing past? Speak no more of it I cannot!     

Ask not what Chordie can do for you, but what you can do for Chordie.

21 (edited by Peatle Jville 2021-03-06 10:03:11)

Re: First Time Up

Cheers Jim and Phill.  I like your sense of humour Jim.    Here is another freestyle answer attempt. Hopefully Brian  will add some of his own witty bits when he reads this and Phill’s previous clever bits. Open to any other freestylers out there also who want to write something about first time up.
All this innuendo.
Not really casting aspersions.
Or here to create a diversion.
On Easy Beats  first poetry night.
Milking words to fill  this page with lines.
Most probably wasting mine and others time.
My imagined implications.
A fantasy about those caught in his spell.
While he delivered spoken  moments about his heaven and hell.
All his words drawn from a deep well.
Gaining respect good venerations from a room  filled with different  generations.
People thinking they have nothing in common  hearing and absorbing his words.
Here in New Zealand we have more flocks than herds.
We wear sheepish grins.
As we observe others sins.
While hiding ours in rubbish bins.
Young leaders trying to rise above the din.
Look to us in the hope we don’t throw them under the bus.
Seem to think  its great to swear and cuss.
Some of our very normal ways to others completely absurd.
On this his first performance poetic date.
Nervous about how he would rate .
Easy Beat our mate  wasn’t acting like a bull at a gate.
He didn’t say, “flock this or flock that”.
He used good words easy to understand and easy to relate.
Idolization of many woman for the man in the spot light.
Yeah right.
He would say,” obvious you weren’t there on the night”.
If you heard these new stories of his opening night.
The  man at the  centre of this story.
Would wonder how  all this imagination took flight.
In a cynical Kiwi way he would say.
“Yeah right.”
Groupies still exist. 
To chase me into the night.
“Yeah right.”
No longer a virgin performer after that night.
“Yeah right.”
One thing for sure he did well on his first night.

Re: First Time Up

Public Poem
First time in public reading a poem
scared witless
i sought out advice
look at the front
look at the back
pick out one person in the room
ignore everyone
don`t talk too fast
don`t talk too slow
too loud or too low
im looking at my shoes
knees knocking
totally bloody confused
for better or worse
here i am being myself     


Sorry Brian I had to edit one word to witless. This is a family show! Lol.

The King Of Audio Torture

Re: First Time Up

Brian.

I understand first night nerves
After a while they turn to apprehension
Expectant faces saying "come on entertain me"
So you take a deep breath, picture them all naked
Your mouth goes dry, it's now or never
Cough, a bluff you take a sip of beer
Now your first words come out loud and clear
Heckle me, I dare you!
You've got them and they're quiet
Till you reach the end then they erupt with cheers
They stand. They clap
They slap you on the back
Then you realise...I must have got something
But keep your feet on the ground
When you get home
As you close the front door
She who must be obeyed says
Get the kettle on I'm dieing for a cup of tea
Your not John Lennon yet!

Ask not what Chordie can do for you, but what you can do for Chordie.

24 (edited by Peatle Jville 2021-03-18 05:43:42)

Re: First Time Up

Good one Brian your words put us inside how it felt for you to be in the spotlight for the first time.
Phill reading your excellent words above  made me think of what my mum said to me after me doing a party song on a karaoke at her village.
"Your no Elvis Presley thank God most the people here are deaf."  Not  sure if her words took the wind out  of my sails or kept my feet on the ground.