Sofia Sandoval
It was my first time reading some of my poetry in front of such a large group. There must have been at least 50 people. We filled the basement of the coffee house. I'd been wanting to go for weeks just to check it out, but things kept coming up. Finally, I dragged a close friend along and we drove past our city limits leaving our comfort zones behind. We had every intention to present something that night even though we had written nothing. We got there early, ordered a coffee, and shared one of their yummy sandwiches. We crafted something as we waited in the basement for the crowds to arrive. At night 9pm, we let them know it was our very first time and we signed up. My self doubt crept in several times that night. It was there as I listened to the musicians and poets present, and when I went to the bathroom. "You know if we leave now we don't have to do it" my inner critic persisted, "it's probably filled with clichés". I reminded my inner critic that I sent her off to a Buddhist retreat in the Himalayas, and then reassured myself that I would be fine. I went up there when they called my name and sat on the chair one leg underneath me as I cleared my nervous voice and began to read off what I had written on a napkin. "I have to own this. I have to take my time and do it right", I thought as I started. I had read my work too quickly at the Wild Womyn Writers Workshop. (At the workshop, we talked about owning our words and not rushing through things.) So this time, I took my time. Line by line I undressed the intimacy of my thoughts in my writing. They liked it. They clapped and cheered. Everyone was very welcoming and supportive. Before I began they had reassured me they didn't bite. I did rush getting back to my seat as if I had just completely undressed and clasped my naked clothes in my chest as I left the stage. I had done it though. And I was hooked. As much as it was exhilarating to present, it was even more awesome to be a part of that night and watch others in there element share their craft. I enjoy being inspired by others. Best of all it's free! It's a coffee house so you do want to be respectful and but there is no cover charge. They plan to start at 8:30 pm to accommodate the growing list of presenters.
Riverside Underground Poetry Organization - RUPO Poetry
Mondays 8:30pm-10:30pm in the basement of Back2TheGrind
3575 University Ave
Riverside, CA , 92501
(951) 784-0800
www.back2thegrind.com
Poetry From the Streets
Sofia Sandoval
I had the most amazing night on Thursday at this Spoken Word event held in downtown Riverside, CA. On a cool and breezy California night, about a dozen male and female artists took their turn at the microphone and serenaded us with their poetry from a second story balcony on the Culver Center of the Arts building. The selection of artists were as varied as their topics, from booty calls, to Arizona laws, to the art of writing. A good size crowd gathered below to watch, listen and be inspired. I felt surrounded by the common element that united each of us in that moment, our love for the written word. I looked around the supportive crowd of young and old, and breathed it all in to channel as a source of creative inspiration for later use. I couldn't have felt more at home.
Verbal Coliseum Spoken Word is part of a countdown series to the Culver Center of the Arts Gala Opening. For the next 5 months, on the first Thursday of the month, poets, rappers, and/or dance artist come out to perform from 7-9pm for this free event.
The May 6 performance featured HBO Def Poets, Joe Hernandez-Kolski (aka Pocho Joe) and Besskepp (Cory Cofer), along with local poets, MCs, soap boxers, and rhyme-sayers. Busdriver Experimental Hip Hop is headlining the June 3 event.
Countdown to Culver
June 3, July 1, August 5, September 2, October 7
7-9 PM FREE
3834 Main Street (Downtown)
Riverside, CA 92507
www.culvercenter.ucr.edu