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February 23, 2006
Lyrical voices at Soul 2 Soul restaurant
By JOY JAMES
Searching for something to do on a Friday night didn’t lead me too far from home. In fact, I stayed right in Bridgeport.
There are only so many nightclubs and restaurants that you can go to without them all starting to look the same. The music is the same or the food is the same. Every once in a while you have to break out of the monotony that life can become.
Recently I stumbled across an invitation to “A Night of Poetry,� and quickly dismissed the idea of attending. And then, just as quickly, I reconsidered. Why not. I used to believe that poems and poetry were basically about rhyming. That’s how naïve I was.
Then I went to the Lyrical Voices poet night at the Soul 2 Soul restaurant and learned a few things. I felt the poetry. I know that may sound corny, but after each of the 15 or so artists read their works, I not only heard what they had to say but I believed that I felt what they were trying to convey. Being black, I understood and have shared many of the same feelings. I can’t say that I’ve had the same struggles, but I was overwhelmed with compassion.
Before going, I had half expected snapping fingers — instead of applause — and everyone sitting around dressed in full black, and, of course, the French beret askew. Was I glad to be wrong.
Poetry is a real outlet for some. Unimaginative people bury their thoughts in movies or drown their sorrows in beer. But that night out in Bridgeport allowed me to add some much-needed culture and appreciation to my life.
The night began with a phenomenal performance by artist/poet Iyaba Ibo Mandingo, who creates self-portrait artwork while performing his spoken word. How’s that for multitasking?
As each artist went up to perform, I felt a surge going through me. Some of the other audience members looked at me thinking that I’d be one of the next ones to step up to the mike. Maybe I have some sort of literary look about me, but I didn’t get up there.
Some of the performers admittedly said that they couldn’t read their own handwriting. That’s passion.
Prior to going to poetry night, which is held on the third Friday of every month at the restaurant, my poetry experience had been limited to movies like “Poetic Justice� and “Love Jones.� I had occasionally watched HBO’s “Def Poetry.� But what’s the purpose of watching it on TV when life is out there to be lived? And you can interact in a real poetic jam session. Snapping fingers optional.
Soul 2 Soul Restaurant (335-7685) is located at 1020 Broad Street, Bridgeport. For more information about Lyrical Voices, e-mail LyricalVoices1@yahoo.com
Posted by getout on February 23, 2006 8:03 AM
