Soul Food and Slam Poetry

Soul food, good writing, strong women, church outside of church...

I find all this at Po’Boys and Poets every 4th Saturday at Big Fatty’s, or anywhere there is good slam poetry at a soulful venue. Poet and genius Black Atticus began Po’Boys and poets with inner-city teacher and equally talented poet and phonomenal woman Rhea Sunshine. I met Atticus at a poetry workshop with the Writers Guild and we became friends. I went to his slam poetry night at Big Fatty’s in Knoxville, and came back with a table full of friends. I was so blown away and I heard women saying things that women don’t say, and overcoming things that people don’t talk about. Check them out and eat some soul food, and be brave enough one day to sign up for Open Mic night.

This an excerpt from my friend Aneja’s piece that brought the house down. Check out some of the photos here.

See, my mother never wanted me, and you refuse to marry me without a degree... But I’ve come to learn that my mothers mentality has never been where its supposed to be.

But my God made it 60 degrees in the middle of January... So the sun could kiss MY face and dry MY tears. As you can see I’m trying to be real subtle about this situation But ch-you keep throwing these jabs. And Imma have to put on my sugar ray gloves and help punch the sugar out cha’ hips... to remind you that it’s gonna to take a real man to handle all this truth.

And NO, I don’t apologize for being too much woman for you. For my God provided me with a circle of Queens to remind me that I’m worthy. And if my good enough isn’t good enough for one than how the hells it gonna be good enough for two.

It doesn’t take a genius to see I’ve come to a conclusion too. I wrote this late night short and sweet meme to remind you and me that uuummm, I’m through.