I AM WRITING THIS LETTER TO ADDRESS AN ISSUE I BEEN HAVING WITH POETS. AS IN ANY ARTFORM YOU WANT RESPECT FROM YOUR PEERS,AND AS I HAVE RECIEVE QUITE A BIT BUT THERE IS ALWAYS THE OTHER SIDE.MY GOAL WAS ALWAYS TO TOUCH AND OR REACH MY PEOPLE.THIS IS WHY I ALWAYS LOVE VENUES THAT PATRONS OUTNUMBER THE POETS ATLEAST THREE TO ONE.AS I FEATURED ALL OVER THE EAST COAST PHILLY, NJ,B-MORE, D C,DEL AND NY IT IS HELD TRUE POETS RARELY BUY EACH OTHER CDS THEY MAY SHAKE YOUR HAND AND HUG AND EXCHANGE VERBAL LOVE BUT EONOMICALLY,NO. BUT IF YOU CAN GET ON IN A VENUE WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT ARTIST AND MOST TIME THIS WORKS FOR ME,MORE SUPPORT BETTER CONNECTION FOR NON POET PATRONS MORE LIKELY TO BUY CDS AND THEN FOLLOW YOU ONLINE.ALSO AS AND ARTIST CONCERNED ABOUT MY YOUNG PEOPLE I WRITE POEMS FOR THEM,AS I GET THIER ATTENTION I CAN GO UP A LEVEL WITH POEMS FOR THE MORE ADVANCE LISTENER,THEN PASS THEM THE CD AND WATCH THEM GROW IN THIER THINKING,PEOPLE ARE MY AIM.AS THE YOUTH,AND WOMEN WHO ARE GREAT SUPPORTTERS ALSO MY BROTHERS WHO ARE NOT POETS BUT PEOPLE ONCE AGAIN LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT SPEAKS TO THEM.PART OF THIS LETTER WAS WRITTEN WHEN A THREAD WAS STARTED TO SUPPORT THE PHILLY YOUTH POETS AND SOME OF THE COMMENT TO ME CAME WITH A HEART THAT WAS SAYING LET'S SUPPORT THIS AND MOVE OUT THAT. MAKING SEPERATION BETWEEN THE YOUTH AND THE ELDERS IN POETRY/SPOKENWORD.WHEN I JUST FELT WE COULD SUPPORT ALL WHO COMES WTH SOMETHING THAT CAN BE RESPECTED BY ANYONE WHO LISTENS WITH A OPEN HEART.AS I MET AND SUPPORTED THE PHILLY YOUTH POETS SINCE 2006 THESE KIDS GAVE ME THE SAME LOVE AND RESPECT THAT I GAVE THEM. WE SHARED OUR WORK ON STAGE AT THE ARTS GARAGE,JUS WORDS,THE ROTUNDA,RUTGERS COLLEGE THE CLEF CLUB AND ON THE STREET AT 40TH AND WALNUT THE PEOPLE WHO LISTEN DID NOT SEPERATE OR FELT AS THE THE YOUTH HAS SPOKEN TO THE POINT THAT OLDER POETS ARE NO LONGER VALID.THE LOVE FROM THE PEOPLE FOR MYSELF STOOD MORE THAN SIDE BY SIDE MANY FELT A GREATER CONNECTION TO MY WORDS.THESE EVENTS WERE MOSTLY FUNDRAISERS FOR THE YOUTH TEAM THAT I GAVE MY TIME AND TALENT AND MONEY AND THIS WAS BEFORE HBO TOOK THEM TO THE LEVEL THAT THEY ARE AT NOW.BUT TRULY THEY DESERVE IT ALL.I END THIS BY SAYING MRS. BETTY'S SON IS THE PEOPLE POET AND NOT THE POET'S POET AND IF IT REMAINS THIS WAY I LIVE SATIFIED IN MY GOD..PS RECENTLY TO ADD TO THIS AT JUS WORDS LAMAR HILL WANTED TO PUT TOGETHER A CYPHER SET WITH HIM,MYSELF AND MR. ACEY HE LATER WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND AND WAS REPLACE BY MS. WISE. THE SET WENT AS I HOPED FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS I WATCHED POEPLE NON POETS POSTON FACEBOOK HOW MUCH THEY LOVED SPOKENWORD AND THE SET WITH MS. WISE,SHYSTER AND TAALAM WAS REALLY GOOD SOME USING GREAT AND AMAZING, BUT YET AND ARTIST FACEBOOK COMMENTED ON MY OWNPAGE THAT WISE AND ACEY WAS DOPE LEAVING ME OUT AS IF I WAS NOT THERE AND YES SHE DID THIS ON MY PAGE,NOW THAT FUNNY.LOL

To me this is heartfelt yet funny. Funny for one reason, I came on the scene not liking poets because most of the ones I'd met were pompous and wrote tons of jibberish that made me say wtf after they left the stage. And I actually say that out loud. Why pull punches? If you're not gonna be honest stay home. I always make it very clear that I DO NOT LIKE ANY ARTIST THAT DOES NOT SHOW GROWTH. I'll stop buying. I don't care if you do hair, write music, rap, etc. GROW. That's all I ask of any artist....no let me say demand. Especially if I'm spending my money. I will never compromise of that. If I did I might as well be one of those who keeps buying booty, gun and money music, while saying dumb shit like 'Well the beat is dope.' Bull! I do not like my time wasted. Not even 3 minutes to hear something that I keep hearing that wasn't dope to begin with. Fuck HBO, Im talking bout new poetry, writting and performances that I can respect because work is put into them. I love new shit, out of the box thinking, breaking through ceilings, avoiding the status quo, artist to give me something. Hands down, when an artist is REALLY into what they are saying and or doing it always makes you say 'DAMN'. Even if you keep walking while saying 'DAMN', you'll remember that ish. It'll make an impression. That's the shit I like, and that's the shit I buy. I like to hear good writing and new perspectives. Hell sue me. I'm kind of confused though because I didn't intepret the last thread as saying the elders are irrelevant. Hell the elders know the way. The young are strong. You can't move without both. However, non growth....well we know what we must do to a tree that bears no fruit. Trust I don't hold any artist to a standard which I refuse to adhere to. Hell if I don't grow fruit. Cut me. It'll do me well in the end. Jus' personally I always try to buy your ish. I wish you came as hard on the cd's as you come live though cause you have that great energy and are so passionate about your words and mission. If they don't mention you move on. Cause I say this about very few but you are an artist that I respect because you mean what you say. Plus you write some stuff that I wouldn't expect...like some of the pieces on your cds that aren't performed as much. If you're your people's poet, which I believe you are then don't worry about the folks who can't locate where you're tryin to go on a map with onstar directing them. Trust. They're a bitch to carry.

THANKS FOR READING AND BEING BRUTALLY HONEST,TWO POINTS I WAS TRYING TO MAKE ONE PEOPLE ARE WHO WE SUPPOSE TO WRITE FOR AND NOT OTHER ARTIST ,PEER RESPECT IS GOOD BUT IT'S THE PEOPLE WE ARE CHASING ,RIGHT.MAYBE I AM WRONG AND WILL REREAD THE THREAD,BUT I FELT TO GIVE THE YOUTH THIER PROPS THERE WAS A ENERGY TO DISMISS WHAT WAS ALREADY OUT THERE.I FEEL THAT I HEAR GREAT WORK FROM ADULT POETS AS WELL THAT WHY I FELL IN LOVE WITH THIS ARTFORM,BECAUSE OF YOU,FREE SPIRIT ,GLORY,VISION ,BERNARD COLLINS,KD MORRISS,JUS GREG AND FELL IN LOVE AGAIN WHEN I HEARD THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE AT THE RUTUNDA. I WROTE THIS BECAUSE IT'S WHAT WAS ON MY MIND,THIS FORUM MAYBE THE ONLY PLACE TO VENT,BUT GLAD I CAN MAKE YOU LAUGH TODAY.LOL WITH YOU.

i'm one of the folks that enjoys the youth poets a little more than the adults right now, for the following reasons:

1. they're still experiencing life so their views are not as tainted and/or jaded.
2. they have a different outlook on the world and it's refreshing to see/hear their perspective.
3. they take more chances with their performance and art - they try and push it to the limit.
4. they write with raw emotion because, for the most part, they haven't learned how to reign their emotions in yet. therefore, they don't mask most of their feelings.
5. most importantly, they open my eyes to things i didn't know about through their words.

like whisper said, everyone needs to grow. i think most adults become comfortable in the box they either created for themselves or allowed others to put them in and they don't want to move outside of it out of fear. now, i'm not knocking the adults as artists. but i think that in general, we as adults need to listen to the kids more. not only in the poetry community, but in our own communities, homes, and schools. the kids see and understand more than we realize (as alyssa says: i know more than you think i do mommy.)

as far as support, people do what they can when they can. if you support others too much, what energy will you have left for you and yours?

HONEST,RESPECT.FOR ME I THINK THAT WE COMPARING OPEN MIC SIGN UP POETS AND I THINKING MORE OF ESTABLISH POETS, I SEE NO BOXES.I NEVER BEEN OR HEAR THE ADULTS SLAM AT THE NATIONALS SO I CAN NOT SPEAK ON THIS,I THINKING MORE OF ACEY,HILL,SHEBA ,13,ATM,BERNARD COLLINS,MANY OF THE DEF POETS ON TV AND ENJOY THEM AS MUCH AS I DO THE YOUTH PETS I SEEN INPHILLY AND WATCHED ON TV. ALSO I BEEN MOVED BY POETS WHO SIGN THE LIST AND SPOKE WITH NO BOOKS TO SELL OR CDS. BUT I SEE YOU POINT ALYSON,STAY BLEESS.

OKAY I REREAD YOUR REASONS,I THINKING LEAVE ALONE BUT IF THE BOARD IS TRUE TO THE FACT OF OPEN DISCUSSION.I HEARD POEMS FROM THE YOUTH THAT MIXED WITH BEING JADED AND HOPE, WATCHING THE FIRST SEASON I GOT THAT BECAUSE THEY WERE SLAMMING THEY SAT AROUND BOUNCING IDEAS OFF EACH OTHER TO COMPETE AND GO TO THE COMPETITION,SAYING ALL POEMS ARE NOT SLAM POEMS,SEEM THEY WERE SEARCHING FOR GREAT POEMS HOPING TO SCORE 10'S BRAINSTORMING NOT A BAD THING BUT DIFFERENT APPROACH TO I POET WHO SAYS I AM DOING ME,HOPE YOU FEEL IT AND SUPPORT.LASTLY I WATCH THE COACHES DO WORKSHOPS TEACHING THEM TO GIVE THOSE EMOTIONS NAGAIN NOT A BAD THING JUST DIFFERENT,BUT YOU SUPPORT WHEN YOU CAN, CONNECT TO WHAT MOVES YOU,IS THAT NOT WHAT ART ABOUT.

Slamming is a whole different animal all together. To win a slam you use strategy. If you don't you go home with empty pockets.

TRUE,JUST AS DOING A FEATURE SET IF THE PEOPLE DO NOT FEEL YOU,NO LOVE NO GRUB.WILL NOT EAT IF THEY DON'T FEEL YOU WHEN YOU SPEAK.

THAT IS TRUE,BUT I WHAT WAS SAYING IS NOT THEORY OR IDEA IT IS WHAT I FELT WAS HAPPENING.ANALOGY; TO MAKE NAS BIGGER HIS FANS WOULD DISS JAY -Z. AND JAY FANS WOULD DISS NAS .SUPPORT IS A GREAT THING BUT I AM SAYING OTHERS WERE SAYING I LOVE THE YOUTH POETS,BECAUSE.. AND THEN FOLLOW BY A STATEMENT TO TAKE AWAY FROM,WHAT IS ALREADY THERE OR NOT ACKNOWLEDGE OTHERS WHO ARE MAKING A IMPACT ON PEOPLE.LASTLY THE BLOG STATEMENT WAS NOT TO GET IN DEBATE ABOUT THE YOUTH POETS,IT WAS TO STATE PEOPLE NON-POETS ARE BETTER SUPPORTERS OF THE ARTFORM,SUCH AS WHERE VERY FEW POETS BY EACH OTHER CDS OUTSIDE OF THIER CIRCLE .PEOPLE/PATRONS HAVE MANY TIME PAID MORE THAN I ASKING PRICE FOR THE MY CD ,THEY WILL GIVE YOU A TWENTY DOLLAR BILL FOR A TEN DOLLAR CD,WHEN YOU REACH TO MAKE CHANGE THEY WILL WALK AWAY SAYING,NO THANK YOU ,AND KEEP DOING WHAT YOUR DOING,AS WELL AS ONLINE SUPPORT/COMMENTS COME MOSTLY FROM PEOPLE NON POETS, WHETHER WALKING DOWN THE STREET OR ON THE BUS OR,PEOPLE SEEING YOU AT YOUR DAY JOB,REGULAR FOLKS ARE BETTER SUPPORTERS OF THE ARTFORM.THIS WAS NEVER ABOUT THE YOUTH POETS,JUST MADE A COMMENT TO ARTICULATE A POINT,MY VOICE GOT LOST IN TRANSLATION.

I have a real nice collection of poetry and underground work at my crib. Just about every artist that I've ever seen live on the underground. Some Im still waiting for and some Im looking for on the net and what not. I know we all want to feel loved and respected among collegues in our art form but when it really comes down to it if everybody on the scene is trying to sell to other artist we all lose. The poetry scene is just a capillary when the goal should be to reach an artery so that the movement of product will be greater. Looking at it from a business perspective, many artist see one another as competition. As we know in the business world many companies do not support companies who have a comparible product unless they seek to dissolve said entity for their own expansion. In the hood we call them haters. So should we really expect, as artist, for every artist we know to buy our product? You have to also keep in mind the economy of today's artist. If you eat solely from your artform you may not have enough residual to support others. Especially if you're not yet established. Some artist while seeking to establish themselves support artist who have a distinct impact on them only. In other words, only the artist they look up to. With so many artist offering product of some kind these days, walking into the venue can be like entering a music store. You're not going to purchase every cd in the place. When The Heat venue was open, I purchased product from every feature artist we ever had; books, cds, etc. We also offered product for sale at the front. Since our business model didnt require a considerable financial sacrifice from the collective it enabled us to do more as a whole to support other artist, our collective, and any community projects. We got support by offering support and not just to one specific audience. However, the financial impact is not the same for everyone. At the end of the night, some people can't even afford to buy your cd. The support we recieve as artist is often relative to not only the motives but the capabilities of our audiences and perspective buyers.

THANK YOU,WHISPER THIS WAS THE DALOGUE I WAS REACHING FOR YOU LIKE ME COLLECT AS MANY ARTIST I WE CAN AFFORD,MANY TIMES AS A HOST ARTIST GIVE ME THIER PRODUCT OR WE SWAP PRODUCT.ALSO AS A FAN OF THE ARTFORM I TRY TO PLAY THESE CDS ATLEAST ONCE OR I TRY VERY FEW BECOME APART OF MY LISTENING ROTATION,I ALSO UNDERSTAND NOT BEING ABLE TO AFFORD CDS ALL THE TIME STILL ANGRY THAT WHEN GEORGIA ME CAME TO JUS WORDS I WAS BROKE,LOL.AS ALL YOU SAID IS TRUE I AM JUST STRESSING THE FACT WE POETS DO NOT SUPPORT THE ARTFORM AS STRONGLY AS PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOTHING TO SELL BUT WANT TO BE MOVED.SO IF WE AGREE THIS IS TRUE THAN I FEEL THE RIGHT PATH IS TO WRITE FOR PEOPLE NOT POETS WHO ARE SLOW TO SUPPORT. ANOTHER THING I WILL WATCH POETS RECITE FOR MONTHS AT A VENUE BUY NOTHING EVER,THEN SAY TO ME THAT THEY ARE WORKING ON A CD,THAT CONFUSES ME.LET ME SAY THIS CD SELL ARE DOWN EVERYWHERE FOR INDEPENDENT AND INDUSRTY ARTIST, IF MONEY WAS THE GOAL TRUST ME I COULD MAKE MORE MONEY SELLING BOOTLEGS ON THE AVE IN PHILLY.I LOVE THE ARTFORM AND MY PEOPLE SO IF A WEEK GOES BY AND I SELL JUST TEN AND LATER HEAR FROM FIVE OR SIX OF THEM AND THEY ARE MOVE,INSPIRED AND CONNECTED TO MY WORK JOB DONE,JUST AS WHEN I DO A YOUTH EVENT AND LATER A KID SEE ME IN THE STREET AND HAS SOMETHING POSITIVE TO SAY,JOB DONE. MY AIM WAS THE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME,BUT I DID TAKE NOTICE OF LACK OF PEER SUPPORT AND THAT'S COOL, IT IS WHAT IT IS.

i'm going to try and address things one by one to: a) explain myself, and b) to offer another opinion. i may not hit everything in this post and i may open a can of worms, but it is what it is.

1. the reason i said i enjoy the youth poets is for the reasons i stated. i did not say that i removed all of my support from adult poets in the scene and started backing the youth poets soley. i enjoy their truths and their enjoyment and relief in expressing them. plain and simple. and honestly, i went to less than a handful of their events. but when i went, i enjoyed myself.

a couple of years ago a saw NUMEROUS adult poets who seemed to no longer enjoy the art, yet they lived off of it (in a way that many of us on the boards wish we could.) it confused and disapointed me. they didn't support other poets, they saw them only as competition to be crushed. and no, this wasn't about slams. it was the vibe they as a person projected. honestly - it really wasn't anyone on the philly scene. it was various poets, from various corners of the globe, with various levels of 'fame.' it was wild to witness.

2. very often, i won't purchase another poet's CD/book to avoid influence. this depends on where i am in my life and it has happened on and off for years. sometimes i'll buy a BUNCH of CDs, and sometimes i won't buy a damn thing. i haven't read a poem in ages and i can't remember the last time i read a poem posted on this board. does it mean that i don't support the people on here or the artists out there? no, it means that i'm doing what i feel is best for me. one cannot please another all of the time.

3. all too often, i have purchased less than mediorce CDs and i have noticed all types of people 'pimping poetry'. when some fool who KNEW he shouldn't have put out a CD tried to sell me one, i told myself i wouldn't buy any more. and i haven't. now, if one of my favorites puts out a CD and I haven't heard anything new from them in a while - i'm gonna treat their release like it was one of maxwell's, sade's, or d'angelo's. ya know?

4. and perhaps, regular people purchase more CDs because they don't know the difference between good and bad poetry. it's just like kids choosing to buy a t-pain CD over a nas CD. to them it's ALL hip hop, even though those of us who understand the art form, recognize the difference. same with poetry.

5. like whisper said - support is relative. a couple of years ago i sat down and did the math. I realized that i was spending about $60 a month going to various venues. that included gas, tolls, parking, cover, drinks, and product. i also realized that unlike most of the poets there, i was one of the ONLY poets going for sheer support. i had no product to sell to recoup even an ounce of that money. and if i did have a book with me, 99% of the time i gave it away because it didn't cost me a dime to make it. stupid on my part? probably. so, i realized that it was a ridiculous amount of money to spend at venues and although that $60 wasn't taking food out of my children's mouths i realized that it could be better spent.

as my children got older, i decided to allow them to see that they meant more to me than poetry or the poets did. so, i threw the majority of my support THEIR way. i still go out, i still fly to events, i still drag them to events - but not like i did before. i have stopped trying to make an impact with my words and instead, use that energy to make myself a better person, woman, mother, and lover. so that way, when my number is called and it's time for me to write again, i'll be able to offer more of myself to those that enjoy my work. (and i do realize that not everyone does.)

right now, my support in the poetry commnity goes largely unnoticed which is how i prefer it. you will rarely see me in the crowd or hear me on stage. but trust and believe, i'm loud as hell behind the scenes trying to make shit happen or providing my opnion/insight/contacts to a fellow writer.

and to make a long story short, i think as poets we should write for ourselves. if we do that, both poets and people will be attracted to our truths and will love, respect, and enjoy that. i think if we write for people...we will ultimatley lose ourselves and what made us poets in the first place.

hopefully, i didn't offend anyone. these are just my views and to each his own. and if you read this all the way to the end...BRAVO! i owe you a drink. this shit was long.

Thank you. I like Southern Comfort(and not that 70 proof bs) w/coke and the lil cherry in it.

I wanna respond to some of the comments Alyson made. Not using the quotes:

'a couple of years ago a saw NUMEROUS adult poets who seemed to no longer enjoy the art, yet they lived off of it (in a way that many of us on the boards wish we could.) it confused and disapointed me. they didn't support other poets, they saw them only as competition to be crushed. and no, this wasn't about slams. it was the vibe they as a person projected. honestly - it really wasn't anyone on the philly scene. it was various poets, from various corners of the globe, with various levels of 'fame.' it was wild to witness. '

Honestly I'd rather not to know some poets as people. Living off the artform..........well it's a double edged sword. You have that time to devote to the artform and become polished. However, it can become stale. Performances become practiced instead of genuine. Since you have to eat you have to become superb and flawless at it. Even the manurisms can become practiced. It's like you really up your level but when your on a down swing the passion is gone. We all know the business end is nasty. When it becomes the main gig......hell have you ever experienced a paying gig drought? If I'm Joe Professional poet and it's either I eat or that Poet over there? Shiddddddddddd. Imma enjoy my steak. Trust. That's why artist diversify these days. Books, playwritting, screenplays. Hell. That starving artist shit is dead. Folks love food.

'i have noticed all types of people 'pimping poetry'. when some fool who KNEW he shouldn't have put out a CD tried to sell me one, i told myself i wouldn't buy any more. and i haven't.'

Seriously. Come on now. Stop lying and saying you love shit you don't like. I've bought a couple off of recommendation and hated every word. Still let the sit on the shelf. Hell somebody might like it but I don't. PLEASE DO NOT PUT OUT A CD JUST TO PUT SOMETHING OUT.

'and perhaps, regular people purchase more CDs because they don't know the difference between good and bad poetry. it's just like kids choosing to buy a t-pain CD over a nas CD. to them it's ALL hip hop, even though those of us who understand the art form, recognize the difference. same with poetry. '

Could be. Could be not. Who's to say. Nah. Seriously, some people don't know what's good. They just know what they've heard. And if what they've heard sounds 'good' to them? Hell they'll buy. Then they'll sit on their shelf and let it gather dust. If it moves them they'll listen. Then there's this point. Different people want different things from a studio project. Some people won't buy poetry cds if they look bootleg. Some won't buy if it doesn't have music as well and vice versa. When it comes to my work? I really don't care why you buy. If you buy I got my foot in the door and I plan on holding it open for a few more poets.

'and if i did have a book with me, 99% of the time i gave it away because it didn't cost me a dime to make it. stupid on my part? '

Hell yes cause I wouldah bought it.

'as my children got older, i decided to allow them to see that they meant more to me than poetry or the poets did. so, i threw the majority of my support THEIR way. i still go out, i still fly to events, i still drag them to events - but not like i did before. i have stopped trying to make an impact with my words and instead, use that energy to make myself a better person, woman, mother, and lover. so that way, when my number is called and it's time for me to write again, i'll be able to offer more of myself to those that enjoy my work. (and i do realize that not everyone does.)'

Well my one ain't that old yet. She's young and so it my marriage. That's what requires the majority of my support right now. Husband and Child. I've always said that sometimes poets need to get out of the venues and go live. Our lives are what allow us to connect and be connected to. The hell you writting about besides other poets if you spend every day and night in the venue. Reminds me of those my G-mom usta refer to as 'Jesus Only.' You 'Poetry Only.' I mean damn. Atleast go to a movie. Have dinner with somebody aside from ya microphone.

'and to make a long story short, i think as poets we should write for ourselves. if we do that, both poets and people will be attracted to our truths and will love, respect, and enjoy that. i think if we write for people...we will ultimatley lose ourselves and what made us poets in the first place.'

You didn't make this story short. It's still long as hell. I write for myself ultimately to write for myself is to write for you and you and you and you. We are all connected. Seriously that's something I know. When I do an ego piece you will get pumped up about yourself. When I get idignant so will you. When I drop knowledge you will pick it up. When I spit a love piece hell you'll remember love. Initially it's for me but it becomes for you. I have a piece called 'Coming Clean', last time I performed it I cried. I mentioned it because the weird thing is I wrote this piece like 5 or 6 years ago. Yet it's just been in the past 3 years that Im coming to KNOW what the following lines mean to me: 'My grandmother told me I'll have few friends so I must be called the truth/But I finally realized I ain't gotta prove that shit to you/While you got fist pumped and your head dropped pretending to be aloof. Really means I don't care if you feel me. I'm not someones monkey. I don't have to do the pieces you want. I don't have to perform when you want. If I let my audience run me.....I'll have nothing of substance to give them. Before you feel me....I have to feel me first.

'and if you read this all the way to the end...BRAVO! i owe you a drink. this shit was long.'

Like I said in the beginning, I like Southern Comfort(and not that 70 proof bs) w/coke and the lil cherry in it.

Thank You.
I'm the whisper and I approve this message.

THANK YOU BOTH THOSE WERE THOUGHT OUT RESPONSES,AND LONG.SMILING WHILE I AM TYPING. SINCE THESE ARE YOUR THOUGHTS I WILL NOT ANSWER THEM ALL.I REALIZE THESE ARE GENERAL STATEMENTS,BUT YET I WILL INTERJECT ME IN TWO.WHEN THE WHISPER SAY STEP AWAY FROM THE MICROPHONE FOR OTHER ACTIVITIES,THE GOOD THING IS I BEEN ACTTIVE FOR YEARS NON-STOP HOSTING EVERY WEEK,OPEN MICS,SHOWCASES AND YOUTH EVENTS AS WELL AS FINDING TIME FOR MOVIES,DINNERS,WITH MY WIFE AND HAVING FULL TIME JOB ALSO MY SON WHO ALWAYS LIVES WITH HIS DAD GRADUATED H S THIS YEAR I LOVE WORKING OUT RUNNING HITTING THE HEAVY BAG LIKEI HAVE A FIGHT COMING UP, ENJOY READING AND COLLECTING BOOKS TO GROW IN MY THINKING.THAT WHY I REALLY JUST DO EAST COAST EVENTS AND HAVE NOT BEEN DOWN TO B-MORE OR D C IN AWHILE KEEPING PHILLY,DELAWARE AND NEW JERSEY LATELY SO I CAN FIND QUIET TIME AT HOME.AS FAR AS PEOPLE NOT KNOWING WHAT GOOD POETRY THAT I AM NOT FEELING,FOR ME MY WORK IS ALOT CLOSER TO NAS THAN T-PAIN,MAYBE YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT OTHER POETS OR MAYBE YOUR NOT,BUT I KNOW THAT I WRITE ON A LEVEL THAT CONNECTS TO PEOPLE AND MAYBE WHAT YOU CALL GOOD POETRY I BEEN IN THESE VENUES WHERE MOST OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE LAMENT EARS,IT HARD FOR US TO CONNECT ALL THE TIME I CAN DO A POEM THREE DIFFERENT PLACES AND GET THREE DIFFERENT REACTIONS.BUT THAT IS LIFE WE ALL HAVE VARIOUS TASTE AND POETRY MUST COME IN DIFFERENT FLAVORS.