River by Ana-Maria (November 18 Open Mic)

EDIT: For some reason, on this computer, the video is not coming up on the main page, but when I clicked through to the full post (click on the title "River") the video worked. Try that if you are having issues seeing the video.

This poem was performed by Ana-Maria at Not Just A Slam on November 18.  Continue to scroll down for more images and poems from the lunch hour Open Mic.

River

Take me away to the river
the one with the sorrowful tide
Take me away to the river
where you tried to quote Elliot,
'Let us go you and I'
Secrets stuck in the ground like
bulbs seldom willing to grow
Me, never willing to churn dirt
and pull them up from below
I have lost more than mailbox keys
dropped more that tumbling ladders

Loud neighbour in the night, tripping
on tin crashing trash cans sounding
alarms and hissing at racoons
Holding his breath as he passes
under open windows
The shadow on the edge of the streelight glow
The astronomer with the telescope
little hope, eyes that won't close

Picture me standing breathless at your
doorstep waiting to say something

about the nature of regret

Russell's Song (November 18 Open Mic)

Here is Russell performing at lunch at the November 18 Not Just A Slam.

Nevermore by Sasha (November 18 Open Mic)

This song was performed by Sasha at Not Just A Slam on November 18.  Continue to scroll down to see more images and poems from the lunch hour Open Mic.


Nevermore

They whitewashed the walls the day they moved out
threw their clothes in a shopping bag and grabbed the remote
felt the absence of change in their pockets clinking
and she chainsmoking 'cause she's trying to quit drinking
and the

kids are tying to get some sleep on the night bus
but won't close their eyes
'cause they know despair is sightless
ripped ticket stub in one hand
dusty photo in the other
steely eyes hardened
from years of being a single mother
but the
sliver of moon looks bright
on suberbia streets
and they're at the end of the line now
they gotta move with their feet
feel their hearts beat
like metronomes

just looking for a home

Why they leaving like this?
ask the hole in her floorboards
the voices in her head
and the sweat in her pores
her hands fought the battle but her feet lost the war
the kids shoulder their bags and the powerlines whisper:
nevermore

Open Mic - Wednesday November 18

Here are some of the poems and images from the Open Mic at lunch. Thanks to everyone for their ears and their words. Click on the "Read More" at the bottom to see the full poems. We will update this as more keep coming in...

dreamcatching (Tyson Kelsall)

your eyes,
they're like rushing water
but i still try to hold them
with cupped hands
and strong legs
if only for a second

i'm chasing you like a
shark on blood
but the problem with this world
is that there's always somebody
somewhere dreaming
and the hardest workers are still
divided by desire
so the ones who catch their dreams are always
the mountain climbers
the bottle finishers
the nine round fighters
and the third time triers
who are like children
trying to open up a locked door
or a bartender who just made up a new joke

If you missed CFSW09, you missed a lot...

Man, was that amazing. While this is a different group of poets, it was Ottawa who took the crown. Here is a group piece of theirs from last year...

Sasha and Melissa

rocked out at the Fugtivies show this Friday morning!

Walking out of the crowd and onto the stage, they hit the mic hard and wowed the crowd with their lyrical lusciousness.  Amazing!

Make a promise at fugitives.ca and tell us about it in the comments section of our new blog!

The next Lunch Hour Open Mic is coming on Wednesday November 18th.  If you want to be on the mic, let NJ or M.C. (Mr. Cunningham) or Ana-Maria or Tyson (or anyone) know!

Be there early for good seats and remember, eat food BEFORE coming in the theatre as there is NO FOOD OR DRINK in there!  We respect those that gives us space to speak freely.

M.C.