Expressions in Verse and Music: August edition

We had a really nice turnout last night and a very interesting and exciting night. Great poetry and music as always! And some really in depth conversations about the poems and poetry itself. We even had two guests who came to be the audience which we all appreciated! It was great to have Joyce Williams rejoin our group and to welcome, Meghan Robb, our latest poet. I am constantly amazed and delighted to see the diversity and dynamics of this group. We have highschool students up to seniors in their 80's! Black and white, male and female, single and married, and we all find common ground in poetry as well as learn about each other. If music is the universal language then poetry is the universal soul. Thank you to everyone who made last night so spectacular!

At Ease Article

Date Published: August 13, 2007
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Open Mic catches on in Sumter, held at 3 venues

By LEAH SMITH
At-Ease Staff Writer
Lsmith@theitem.com

Bonnie Johnson is a poet. She's always enjoyed writing poetry, and while living in Pennsylvania, she started to share it.

"My first book of poetry, "Where Willows Weep," was published by Ye Olde Font Shoppe in Waterbury, Conn. in 1996," she said. "When the book came out, I was the featured poet."

Then there were also the open mic nights in which Johnson enjoyed participating, both in Pennsylvania and in Connecticut.

One night while at Drews Blues Cafe, Johnson, her husband, Keith, and their friend Cynthia Harris were talking about poetry. As Johnson bemoaned the fact that she'd been unsuccessful at finding such an outlet in Sumter, Harris said, "Why don't you start your own?"

The group called over Drews Blues owner Marcus Huggins and asked if they could have such a event at his cafe once a month. Huggins was all for it, and Sumter's Open Mic Poetry Night was born.

That was in June 2006. Since that time, Open Mic's popularity has expanded and two more venues for the artistic outlets of original artists have been birthed.

"I left there in March 2007 and have been doing the Open Mic at the Spectrum Community/Senior Center since then," Johnson said.

Johnson, concerned about one of the venues becoming an obviously free one, spoke in March with Kim Dault at the community center (who just so happens to be Huggins' sister) and Dault told Johnson she was welcome to hold Open Mic there.

Johnson eventually changed the name of that event to "Expressions in Verse and Music," a title she believed would be more inclusive and draw a greater variety of artists.

"Open Mic at DBC (Drews Blues Cafe) is now being hosted by one of my poets, Colette Jones," Johnson said. "She took over two months ago and we support each other's forums."

Johnson said groups who turn out for the events can be as small as three or as large as 15. People come to read their poetry, sing their songs, play guitar or piano.

"We encourage original poetry and songs," said Johnson. "It's family-oriented and we keep it clean."

Johnson said she's seen all ages attend: high school as well as college students, people in their 30s, 40s, 50s, students, teachers...

"We'd like to encourage people who'd just like to listen to come too - poets and guests," said Johnson.

(You will probably recognize the pictures in the article in the paper from the many I took at the open mics. I sent in about 20 pics and let them choose the ones they wanted to use.)

Black Snake Moan

I don't often do movie reviews because we watch so many. Keith has an extensive library of videos and as many as we send out to friends, sell at yard sales, etc the stacks keep growing. Recently he got one called Black Snake Moan. I wasn't sure I wanted to see it, but OMG! If you haven't seen it this is a must. First, if you love blues music you will want to watch it just for the back ground and music. But, the movie itself is intense and draws you in without you even realizing what's happening. You understand from the start this movie is a metaphor and everything in it is a metaphor. If you're a literal person who takes everything they see, well, literally, you may find this movie disturbing and even racially motivated. If you look at everything as representing a part of the human life experience you walk away feeling awed and humbled and understanding that life itself is one big metaphor. You understand that everyone has a dark side that can take control, but if you have something strong enough to hold you or pull you back you can conquer the darkness and control it. I don't want to give the plot away or ruin it for anyone who hasn't seen it, but I will leave this offer open...if you have seen it and want to discuss it this page is open for discussion. I would say this is one of the top movies ever made!

Here are some comments others left about this movie:

Craig Brewer is now officially a writer/director for whom I will see any film by, no matter how bad it may look. His debut, Hustle and Flow, was one of my favorites from that year, with its emotionally charged storyline and realistic, fallible characters. I wasn't quite sure what I would end up thinking after seeing this sophomore effort. The cast seemed great, the trailer used music effectively, however, it seemed like there was a good chance it would cross into absurdity, and fast. Fortunately, Black Snake Moan hits all its marks dead-on. The acting is astonishing, the writing superb, and the editing style, as well as juxtaposed music, riveting the whole way. Brewer seems to be a master at getting his characters to have the right mix of both compassion and malice as they set forward on their paths toward redemption.
Samuel L. Jackson is fantastic as the older bluesman farmer trying to reconcile his life with God and that of the flesh and the pain it has brought him. There are the moments of stoic sternness as well as those of kindheartedness with his captive/patient. You never really look at the setup as comical or unrealistic because he sells what he is doing so well. Also, the character of Rae is not chained up for very long, despite what the trailers would have you believe. The situation starts a bit awkward until we see that the chaining was for her own good and is actually used for only a day or two. As for that chained girl, Christina Ricci really shines. I never really saw her as anything special, but this role is a true breakthrough for her. This girl is so troubled that her past sexual abuse has scarred her very deep down. Any time she is away from her love she starts seeing flashes of the man who took her childhood innocence away and itches to be touched by any man available to let the image go away. Her nymphomania is not for pleasure, but rather for survival from the haunting nightmares always hiding behind her eyelids. Ricci fully inhabits the role and shows all the emotional trauma to great effect and realism. Mention must also be made of Justin Timberlake, again showing some real acting talent. Where this guy came from I have no clue, but hopefully he will continue taking more films and steer away from the mostly crap music he churns out.

Towards the end we have a truly enthralling sequence with "This Little Light of Mine" singing out, and earlier, the interaction between captive and captor, when the chain is first introduced, shows some top-notch work. The truly magical moment, though, is when Jackson sings (yes that is him throughout, like it was Terrence Howard in Hustle) the titular song while a thunderstorm roars and the lights flicker. If I don't see a more beautifully shot sequence all year, I won't be surprised. What these two people do for each other is wonderful and shows what humanity is capable of. One thing I think I really enjoy with Brewer's work is the fact that he doesn't show sinners becoming redeemed heroes. Instead he shows us that no matter how bad you have been, or how bad life has been, everyone can strive for redemption and to be better people. We don't have saints here, but fallible people looking to right their ship. If the course stays true or if it falls back into darkness, no one really knows, but at least they can say that they tried as hard as they could.

It's Just a Fluke!

As I've stated before I really enjoy a mindless mystery/whodunit to distract me for the stress of every day life. Recently I picked up some books at the Brick Street Coffee House. They help out with the Friends of the Library by selling donated paperbacks for 50 cents each and hardcover books for $1.00 and they carry good stuff. Last time I was in there I noticed some books that looked like fun reading by an author I hadn't heard of before. Joanne Fluke writes about a woman who runs a bakery called The Cookie Jar, but in every book she somehow manages to stumble upon a dead body. Then of course, in spite of her cop boyfriends protestings, she must solve the case...and she does. The problem is this...the books are titled "The Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder", "The Blueberry Muffin Murder", "The Lemon Meringue Pie Murder", etc etc etc...you get the picture. The books have all the recipes for the baked goods mentioned in the story and I've been tempted to try some, but decided it was better if I didn't. So, what's the problem? I've gained 5 pounds just reading the books! Reading about all those gooey, sweet, high caloried desserts actually put pounds on me! Talk about the power of suggestion! Just thinking about baking them put my body into the it's time to pack on some pounds mode. So, if you decide to read these books, because they are quite humorous, just remember I warned you!