I attended the African American Read-In from 11:00am until 12:30. While I was there I heard selections from June Jordan, Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, Audrey Lorde, and Lucille Clifton. Two new authors I learned about were Audrey Lorde and Lucille Clifton. Both of these author’s works were bold, moving, and truly inspirational. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing the work of these authors because it is completely different from what is normally studied in classes. Hearing it read aloud allows for certain words to be emphasized and ideas to be stressed in ways that would not be possible otherwise.
Poetry is meant to be read aloud and when an audience is truly listening and participating with their attention focused only on the words, it allows for real meditation on the words that are being read. Even if you have read or heard the poem before a new reader will evoke new meanings and emotions in the poem that you did not notice before. It is an experience I truly appreciate. It allows the listener to connect with the poem in a new and different way. Even though I might not be able to relate to what the poem is trying to convey, I still get a rise of emotions and an understanding that might not have been possible otherwise.
Without the poem in front of you, it encourages you to pay close attention to what is being said. The thought of missing a few words drives you to listen and watch the reader with full attention. As I mentioned earlier, I believe that hearing the poem without the words in front of you allows you to get a completely different meaning and emotion from the poem being read aloud. It was a really great experience and I look forward to it again next year.
I'm glad that you were introduced to new writers during the read in -- great point about how listening without the text makes you pay more specific attention to the shapes and sounds of the words, as well as how those shapes and sounds influence the poem's emotional influence.
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