POETRY SLAM
POETRY SLAM
In
May of this year, the North Las Vegas Library District hosted its first Poetry
SLAM. With generous support from
TARGET Stores, Barnes and Noble Books, and Laura's Vineyard, a local
restaurant, our first event was extremely successful.
Our
TARGET Community Grant brought bilingual Hispanic author Gary Soto to our
library to do a poetry reading. He
also graciously agreed to judge our teen poetry contest. More than thirty-five teens from local middle and high
schools submitted poems for consideration.
The
night of the reading, eight young people were invited to dinner with Mr. Soto.
They also read their winning submissions after Mr. Soto's program. A large
group of listeners, family, supporters and poetry enthusiasts attended the
program. Barnes and Noble Books
provided free copies of Mr. Soto's recent publications, as well as poetry
collections and other books for the teens.
So
many people over the age of eighteen called wanting to participate that a
second event was held on Thursday, August 17th. More than sixty-five people came to read their poetry or
listen to other readings. Twenty-five poets read in the first round and ten of
those were chosen to read in the second round.
Our
event was featured in City Life's PICK OF THE WEEK highlights. A reporter and
a photographer from the LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL were also in attendance. They
were impressed and delighted by the evening. Susan Stutzky won the poetry
contest with two poems, “If My Legs Were Two Inches Longer” and “Rules
for My Funeral” which delighted everyone.
Local poets attended and served as judges. The contestants ranged in age from six years old to eighty
years old, and all were inspirational. "It
was a magical evening!" commented Nancy Jefferis from Barnes & Noble
Books..
by
Susan Stutzky, Winner of SLAM
At my
funeral
there will
be plenty of wastebaskets. For people will cry and noses will run.
And hands
full of gooey tissues are disgusting.
At my
funeral,
laughter
should reign, And chuckles comfort.
There's
humor in my flaws,
So tell
amusing tales with gusto.
People may
wear jeans to my funeral. I intend to.
With my
favorite flannel shirt and thick woolen socks. Forget the bra.
Traditional
in life,
Let me be
different in death.
No
hypocrites may come to my funeral.
Make no room
for the self-righteous and judgmental. I'd rather have strangers or no one at
all. So come if you loved me.
Hated me?
Welcome. Make sure I'm gone.
At my
funeral, platitudes and panaceas are banned. I am dead.
There is no
silver lining.
Except for
those I leave money to.
Surround me
with purple and yellow flowers. Greens in exotic baskets.
But just a
few spectacular pieces.
Then feed
the hungry or cure a disease.
In my name,
of course.
Play joyous
music at my funeral.
Songs with
rising crescendos or haunting melodies. Refrains that stick in your head
repeating endlessly. "Ding Dong, the witch is dead..." No, not that
one.
Please don't
say, "She looks so natural." No one says it to me now. Be honest.
Apologize
for times you done me wrong. I forgive you. Forgive me.
Now go and
live better than before.
At my
funeral, there will be no preaching.
Pomposity is
forbidden; no performances please.
Save it for
the Sunday service.
In life, God
was my friend, my sustainer.
He was there
when all you weren't. Or couldn't be.
We were so
intimate, we spoke in the shower.
I had great
insights nude and soapy.
So speak of
my faith.
And that I'm
dancing with Him now.
And leave it
at that.