Unchain Your Mind | National Poetry Month

NaPoMo #1 (Haiku for 1APR15)

I hear your voice, Lord. 

I will let you sail this ship. 

You see what I don't. 

~UnhurdChyld

Have you ever wondered if you were "doing life" right? Like if you ever really figured out how it works and what you're supposed to be doing with it?  

So many people have told me that I should really go into doing Poetry full time. Or they'll ask why haven't I done it yet. Well that answer is simple (maybe not correct, but it's simple)...

I'M AFRAID!!

I'm afraid of my poems not being as good as the poets that inspire me. I'm afraid that my words won't really be heard and understood. I'm afraid that my desire to make a change will get lost in translation. Most of all, I'm afraid that I'm ordinary and everything that I write, anybody else can too. 

A year ago I started back writing and was inspired to start an open mic in 2015. When I began writing last year, I started to get a lot of exposure. People started asked me come and do poems at luncheons and various other events. CD sales were increasing and everything! But I still felt ordinary. Until less than a week ago...

While on the phone with my best friend, we were talking about upcoming engagements that we were scheduled to perform. I told her, "You know what? I think I've performed  for practically every Greek Organization on this island. Except for the Deltas." The very next day I had an email in my inbox asking me to perform at the Delta Sigma Theta Annual step show  with a sold out audience of 630 people. 

I never thought that this is where I would be right now. I'm humbled. Am I still a bit hesitant? Yes. But I'm not in control. "The mind is stronger than my body. God is stronger than my mind."

Unchain Your Mind | Entrepreneurship Novice

Almost an entire week after the anxiety and excitement has died down, I am able to gather some of my thoughts on the Honolulu Premiere of Poetic Action. 

In a nutshell....IT WAS AWESOME!!! The turnout was great, the audience was awesome, and the poets were absolutely phenomenal! And to think, I did all of this advertising telling people, "You won't find another open mic NEARLY as good as this one is going to be on this island."  It sold well...to them. I still had my doubts. I didn't want to be the only poet for the night. I started to think about everything: What if I put too many chairs out and it's gonna look empty in here because nobody comes? What if we can't start on time? What's the plan if nobody decides to sign up and do any poetry? 

Well, people had to add chairs! The doors opened at 7pm and there were some people outside at 6:45pm. I started 15mins after the planned time because I kept trying to give people a chance to get inside, but more people just kept coming through the door! To top it off, we had JUST enough poets to be able to end the show at 10pm on the dot, as planned!!

Everyone had so many positive things to say and expressed how glad they were that I did such an event like that. They can't wait until next month and they said that they're definitely going to be spreading the word and bringing more friends out.

And to those that said they were coming out to support but couldn't make it, you missed a fantastic show! Catch us next month.

My first event as a small business owner, and it was a success! Poetic Action is here!!

LIGHTS! CAMERA! POETIC ACTION!!

Like our FB Page: http://www.facebook.com/PoeticActionLLC 

Instagram & Twitter: PoeticActionLLC

Look for some clips from the show posted there as well!

You Never Know...Who Knows You

After an ABUNDANCE of procrastination, I am finally writing this blog and entire week later. I should have just done it the night that it happened. In the last entry, I mentioned that I met a guy that said he wanted to hear one of pieces and I expressed how I needed to memorize a piece soon. Well, I DID! But let me start from the beginning first.

The guy that I met at the @ttic was Cardiair Geezus, CEO of Real Life Muzic. Of course, I didn't know this at the time, and I most certainly didn't know that the next event where I'd be doing my first memorized piece was going to be one of the events he owned and was going to be attending!

I was soo nervous, but it was really nice to see a few poets there that I knew. So when they called my name, I went up on stage and did my thing. I was hoping I didn't appear too nervous and I didn't stumble over a single word. I did, however, forever about eight lines, lol. But nobody knew because the piece still flowed perfectly. The only thing that I was hoping for was that I was good enough.*sidenote* {{I had ALL intentions of recording this very first performance so I could show y'all and when I got there, apparently my camera battery was dead when I thought I was charging at home the entire time!!...UGH!!}}

After the entire event was over, I was mingling with some other poets when Cardiair came up to me(not knowing it was my first time reciting a piece) and told me that was poem was really nice and gave me some very constructive criticism. When I told him it was my first time, he was like, "Well then A+ for your performance tonight! You did a great job!".He also invited by his studio, which I will soon be checking out!

Nobody seemed to know that it was my first time unless I told them. A few other poems gave me compliments also and it made me feel so good and so much better about my work!Now I'm writing and memorizing like crazy! I'm hoping that I'll get a slot on the roster for the @ttic next week. We shall see and I'll definitely let y'all know. I already know there will be a long story behind it if I don't get a slot because I have spoken with the host and he "said" that he'd put me on the roster. Let's just say that the poetry world can sometimes resemble the music industry...lots of wannabe's that think CEO along with their name just looks nice, but aren't really willing to put in the work......but that's a whole 'nother story. Toodles!!

Me & Cardiair Geezus CEO/Producer/Songwriter/Artist/Poet

http://www.reallifemuzic.com/

Not A Virgin...Anymore

I wasn't too sure on what I was going to do this Sunday evening after church. This was the last day of my three day weekend and I didn't really want to spend it at home on the couch napping and later regretting not going anywhere. I hopped on the internet(where I always seem to be) and tried to tweek my new poetry page on myspace --> http://www.myspace.com/unhurdchyld <-- sorry...I digressed. LOL

So since I had poetry on my mind, I went to a website I found a couple of days ago to see if there were any open mike sessions in my area on Sundays. There was one less that 5mins. from my place. "I'll go check it out since I've never been to one." Is what I told myself.

Unfortunately, I couldn't find a SINGLE soul to go with me! I wanted someone to go with me cuz I knew I wasn't going to know anyone there and what if I actually got up the guts to do one of my own poems? Who would even say that they were there to hear it? I didn't have anyone to record me either; just in case I wanted to put it on YouTube or something. People are going to get tired of me sitting on my living room floor reading from my book.LOL.

Since all of my friends were busy, I decided to go alone. I was REALLY nervous and had NO intention of getting up there. But I made sure I tucked my journal in my purse "just in case"...hehehe. It started off a little awkward to me cuz there were some really interesting people there and I heard pieces that matched the same description. But who am I to judge? I just expected more spoken word. I won't bash anyone and their feelings, interpretations, or writing styles.

A lady came and sat at the table with me and asked if I was reading. I told her no because I would be too nervous and I haven't read my poetry in front of a crowd before. "Go ahead and sign up! You're going to be nervous at first, but you'll be fine and it's fun!", is what she told me. So I put my name on the list. I was halfway down the second column on the list of people. I had time to get my nerves and things together.

As it got closer to time for me to get on the stage, my stomach began to slowly rise. It finally reached it's destination of my THROAT when the host said, "Let's welcome our virgin, Unhurd Chyld." Virgin, of course, meaning first time reader LOL. I did "I Wanna Write A Poem" (If you haven't heard it, check my YouTube but I'll be posting it on here soon.)and the people LOVED it! I was so excited to know that they laughed when I said something funny...my husband will tell you that I'm not the best when it's comes to telling jokes. I got lots of compliments when I was done.

Before I left, the lady that was sitting at my table gave me her card and told me to give her a call because she wanted me to come to her open mike. Her name is Lady S and she hosts one at a different spot on Thursday nights! I was mad excited and told her thank you and I would definitely be there.

So, my poetry cherry was popped and I feel sooo much more confident about my poetry now! I can't wait for the poetry slam on Tuesday night and another open mike on Thursday!My journey has JUST begun!