first poetry reading... take a second to help me? :)

Hey guys! 

First off I'd just like to say thanks so much for standing by my side and having faith in me since I've joined this site. I've met some amazing fellow writers who have given me awesome feedback along with introducing me to great work of their own. 

I want to try giving my first poetry reading within the next several weeks, nothing too long or professional, just five minutes at an open- mic venue here in Boston.

So, the reason I'm asking for you help is- I can't decide which poems to read. So I'm deciding between a few and as readers I'd like your honest feedback of which one you think is best and will have the best impact on the audience I will be reading it to.

The poems I'm deciding between are: I Dreamt of Cats, The Edge of the Woods, Feel this Scene, Birth and I Body of a man.

But- if you have another poem of mine in mind that you think would be more appropriate then by all means feel free to recommend it. 

I Dreamt of Cats

I have no bigger regret in life,

then the day I dreamt of a poem to write and then ignored it,

too stunned from mind’s fantasy thoughts.

As I lay in bed, kissed with the cool breaths of the evening’s lips,

I drifted into dreams and danced in my imagination,

where I saw images of cats on walls, speaking to me in strange whispers

as they led me through a stroll in my mind, through a walk in the night.

 

We journeyed deep into the city;

where an old woman shuffled the sidewalks, whispering secrets to herself,

her pupils colored with insanity.

The cats led me to where groups of children played in the streets;

some whose hearts were filled with warmth,

but also to others who were filled with such terrible sadness

that It starved their souls, it broke their branches.

 

The cats led me to alley-ways flowered with dumpsters which blossomed art.

Their rims were filled; packed to the top in seas of swimming tints and hues,

winds of various scent, duty of so many essences.

I dug through them and found a book of written pages by a man;

thoughts of a stranger,

as he painted the pastures of those pages with every aspect of his body.

I discovered nibbled dinner that had sat in houses whose walls

were decorated with: dim, quiet, dusk.

I came across the ring of a lover disposed of in rage,

with flames of the passion’s late bearer still beating wildly from the metals.

 

The cats took me to an ocean shimmering with tired night mist,

sprinkled with the laughter of the moon.

In it rested some creatures lurking towards the shallow shore,

curious of the light that rained from the sky,

Yet others fled to the depths of its bottom,

hiding in the thunder of silence, wrapped in the blankets of the black.

 

Then suddenly- the cats all turned and each wandered out a different way,

never looking back; and I stood there on the spot,

as the scenes playing that night evoked every emotion I had never known;

along with all of which had not been felt,

and like a cool black tide upon static waters,

the pounding of my heart showered me-

and I stood there for hours before I woke.

The Edge of the Woods 

I dreamt of moments of confession, the cleansing of my soul

underneath a crimson sun; in a vacant work lit by dusk.

I was woken by a shine beaming through my open window,

It whispered to me and lured me to the silent sleeping streets

Where we roamed deep into the dark hours,

Swaying on the cracked city pavement.

I followed it to mansions made of gold,

To houses dressed with decaying walls.

My soles swept man’s setting,

Dancing in the comfort of resting companions.

Then, the glow led me out beyond those walls

And we came to a vast plain built with beauty

Yet, my spine began to shiver

As we grew further from that of which I knew;

My precious gravel built roads.

We neared a jungle of woods, staring trees

Who parted their branches to invite me in

To the dim, frightening forest.

I stood for hours on the line of division,

Unable to make a decision regarding their request.

Then, my heart spoke and said that it could shine,

My inner essence, my core could be my light,

And so I stepped inside, smiling from my inner lit fire

And radiantly eager to explore the woods secret shadows.

Feel This Scene

The candle light of the moon’s shine surrounds us,

glistening on the ground against the grass.

We’re swimming in a sea of shimmers

yet your eyes are dim with dusk. Fading lust,

soft lips lost, chapped with drying desire,

a heart tired of the world, longing for fresh breaths

while we roam unexplored shadows

as I seek to save your soul,

the essence of your florescence as it flickers,

the might of your fire dying

drowned by the tide of your tears as they rain from your eyes

though the stars soft sparkle burns like charcoal.

You need to feel the sight of this scene

and let it sew the holes of your seams,

patch the silk of your heart,

hear the sound of its song as its wild beats caress you.

Smile with the rising sun as it sends a parade of colors

marching with the tune of the world’s sound.

Tango with the winds as they climb higher then the mountains.

Be the bark of these trees, these stable tables

whose fruit and leaves are a delicious feast.

Let go of the dark and feel the warmth of your heart

because once it’s been felt, from it you’ll never want to part.

You’ll embark in the sea of which I sail

as your sorrows sleep and misery rests

with the beds of the sun’s sweet set.

Birth

I had listened to the wolves cry

to the dim light of the moon

more then I had listened to the birds sing

as their music sent me dancing in my dreams.

 

I had watched the sun set

more often then I had seen it rise

restlessly raining red, painting the sky.

 

I once saw the world as dead;           

I watched it die more often

then I had looked at a sky and felt alive.

 

I had never seen a bird fly,

but I had watched autumn leaves fall

down halls of wind, disappearing

into tunnels of dim light.

 

My heart had yet to beat with passion,

but I felt detachment from the Earth,

like my feet didn’t belong on the dirt.

 

I was a part of a herd, a cow licking blades

of grass in balding pastures as I saw horses

glide out in the open while I cowardly crouched

and hid beneath the fences of that field.

 

I set sail from the shores of nature,

fleeing to the island of darkness,

but then Earth cast a storm, sinking my ship,

causing me to retreat back to her floor.

I struggled to place my feet upon the sand;

Learning to appreciate each breath I took.

 

My soul then told me-

“Embrace the grace of the grass,

play with the petals that have settled into the soil

for they toiled against storms to glimmer

with natures light, flickering from each beat of its pulse.

It won’t always be here for you to hold dear,

So cling to the flame of the exquisite without shame.”

 

I drew the curtains from my heart.

Time was ticking quickly,

The trees were fleeing right before me.

I wanted to hold onto the world forever

And never forget the tints that glinted

Like the sun against pale snow in a soothing glow.

I Body of a Man

I body of a man

whose face remains a stranger in my thoughts.

Face framed with wild hair, skin lit with lust,

eyes of blossoming daffodils, petals tinted gold.

Breath grazing my skin like sweet kisses

in the darkest hour of night.

 

I feel his touch in fragments,

each petting in a different place.

Fingers soaring across the bone of my hip,

palms drifting on the curve of my back,

wrist moaning on my stretched neck.

 

His lips peck me like a sunrise,

their start a raging fire of hue

before they torch my soul in sun,

and upon the night they set over me,

wrapping me with desire.

 

I see his essence in shades of fruit,

skin of a red apple, contents rich with juice,

his dreams seeds to be planted,

his strength firm, like branches of a tree,

past like leaves falling with seasons

and roots dug deep into grounds of nature.

 

I see him singing the song I long to hear

but have not yet heard sung,

I hear his voice more chipper then birds,

his dance like the tango of cool winds

as they glide higher then the mountains.

 

I body of this man.

Reviews

[Drako]

honestly, your work is so good i couldn't choose just one. i'd put the titles on slips of paper, put them in a hat, and draw one, then go with that. you're just that good that you can do it and still blow everyone away

[Calypso]

Edge of the Woods would be best. Congrats.

[Jonathan]

Forget what everyone thinks even me, but the little advice
I can give you is choose the one you feel most passionate
About. The one you can literally mesmerize for how good it is.
One more thing when you get up on stage and that Mic is
In your face you have to have all the confidence in the world.
you have to feel like everyone showed up just to hear you and
Only you. Own that mic and you will own that crowd. I'm not
Just telling you sweet nothings, but the honest truth. I hope you
Leave that mic on fire.

[Liza]

i vote for body of man

[Gone]

They are all good and the advice to go with the one you are most passionate about is very sound. Personally if it were me that one would be The Edge of the Woods. I grabbed me right from the start and kept me right till the end. You must choose the one that does the same for you.

[Linear]

Which one are you most passionate about, at ease with and you can allow the emotions to flow out through your voice, practice speaking aloud, maybe in front of friends or family, also time yourself, do this as many times as possible, try and make as much eye contact as you can with your audiance, moving your head slowly from side to side, if nervous it may be best to find a friendly face and read directly to that one. speak using pauses, and emotion where it's called for, be confident in your own abillity.

[G. K. Bostic]

First I have to say, they're all winners, and you will do well with any one of them. That being said, I think my vote is for "Feel this Scene." Honestly, though, each one is so good that you can't go wrong no matter which you choose.

[OT]

for spoken word - "I Body of a Man" would have the most effect I think!! (but Feel this Scene is my favourite!)

[Mauricio Montoya]

Wow! I got to do the same this week and I can only pick 3 poems. There all great writes, so my advise is go with your heart form the heart and may God be with you.

[Coyote Poetry]

All of the poems are amazing. Each of us have different taste in what we like. My favorite two are "The Edge of the Woods" and "Birth". But I feel at a Poetry reading. Read poetry you feel strong and confident in reading. I create a few Poetry reading at Coffee shops when I was station in California. My goal this year is to begin some sort of Poetry reading in my area in Michigan. Nothing as wonderful as to see a face with a poem. Good luck.
Coyote