Shamelss plug and shout out...
Before I get to the meat and potatoes here (about Komplexs' part), I must give props and congrats on both her marriage and baby to The Whisper in her passage because she came to Warmdaddys and won $1000.00 over
someone she named in her passgae and, yes, I got a call from
someone else named in her passage claiming our slam that The Whisper
WON $1000.00 dollars at - was -as she put it - "BOOTLEG." I was offended by the remark and was f-ing glad tht The Whisper won (how much...? Damn!!
ONE THOUSAND BOOTLEG DOLLARS) and then took pictures and blasted it all over our site. I respect everone named here and not named here. But don't lose a slam - get your poems handed to you on a dixie cup and then cry foul - or "bootleg" when all you want to do iis posture in the pulpit, push cd's and bounce. That I don't and can't respect you for.
Now, for our regularly scheduled program...I will not condone nor cosign much myself. As I am humbled by my own beginnings and my path to the level that I have achieved in this art form.
I take pride in others accomplishments that have strengthend mine and as an educator at Temple University where I teach poetry, I can respect Komplex's opinion and points that he made. At the same time, I must respect and encourage everyones beginnings. WE ALL DID WHAT THEY DO/DID at some point. WE ALL WERE NEW.
I rememeber Komplex hustlin' his CD (while I was in Baltimore one night years ago - and will remind him of this if I have to) in the same fashion he descirbes. I did it too. I was proud. Everyone should be.
At the same time...and here is where I agree with his "American Idol" referrence when they dub themselves poets and spoken word artists. But then, years form now, we will look at them and say: "My - you have grown..." to be respected. And that's all they want...and have to earn. That's all I wanted - was to be respected for what I do...and (by some) today I am. Because everyone that smiles in your face - damn sure ain't yo' friend.
Koplex stated:
"Just because you wrote a poem , doesn't make you a poet."MMMMM?! I asked this question
(as I do in every class room...) while lecturing at Southern University of New Orleans almost 10 years ago and the same question 8 years ago at University of Hawaii where I was a guest lecturer and panelist for a symposium:
'If a person writes a poem in their journal and no one ever reads it (to know that it is there), does that poem make the individual a poet?' And the debate ensued. So, think of the tree falling in the woods without a witness to the noise that it makes. That sound coming from the wilderness that we fail to hear as it communes with the ground.
Just as the sound coming from the persons mouth in the venue that we witnessed reading a (WHAT?) poem. Thereofre, techincally, they are a poet and the tree did make a sound.
Maybe not according to KOMPLEX (?) But in my book, they are. One poem or a million - you are a poet once someone calls you a poet. Just as any other profession in life.
I will not applaude mediocracy nor will I co-sign a poorly delivered poem that may have been written well. I will, instead - if the opportunity presents itself - ask questions and listen to the motivation behind the answer and the "birth" of their art and encourage them to read other poets and write daily or more often than they do.
Komplex makes valid points about paying dues. I recall being referred to as an elder in the presence of one poet that he named and he thought that I didn't hear his line of questions as to "...why I was being referred to as such...?" I am considerably older than he is..almost old enough to be his father and the person who made the ref to me being an elder clarified his statement and defended it as well (as I listened from behind them) when he stated: "k/d has been writing for over 33 years (at the time) and he has studied under the best...the Last Poets, Kimmika Williams, Lois Moses, Ed Shockley, praised by Nikki Giavonni and Kent Forman (oops - name dropping) to name a few, and he teaches, so he knows his stuff..." Then the brother came to me and said "Damn k/d, I didn't know that you were in the game that long..." We talked more about it and kept it moving.
One thing that I was taught early is that "Respect will get you into places where knowledge wont." Therefore, I know that there are bettter performers, poets and better writers out there as well. If we start guaging our own (personal) success on theirs, we will either choke and ride the bench or become motivated to get in the game and go hard. Michael Jordan go cut his first year on the courts...Bruce Lee took an ass whippin too. So who the hell are any of us to tell any person not to or when to take pride in there personal accomplishments?
When your name becomes GOD and I see you at the Pearly Gates, then I will submit unto YOU - but until then. Rememeber:
Humble pie comes in many flavors. I hope that anyone who disagrees is hungry when it comes their way.
FYI: This marks my 38th year since I learned what poetry and a poem is - from my late mother. May she rest in peace.
Cheryl E. Morris 9/23/45 - 5/23/08
"Not every poem ends with an applause."
k/d/morris
Subject: Comment's on Komplex's Blog 
Thu Dec 13, 2007 9:35 pm
. I believe a featured speaker should be on another level. Someone experienced that we can learn from, who's work is passionate, someone versitile, someone worth paying to see. For open mic who cares. It's like the difference between something being your hobby and your career or entry and executive level to me. I'm not saying everybody can't do their thing...hell I say do you. Enjoy your art but don't ask me what I think of your last piece if you're not ready to hear what I have to say about it. Or don't ask me what I think if you're just gonna go away and write a hate piece about me for telling you the truth. Then I'll be forced to write a truth piece that squashes you if I think you matter enough. 
That's the poet that gets under my skin. The poet with their ass on their back. Their's always somebody better on any given day. Believe me. 
