We showed up at City Arts Gallery knowing nothing of what
was about to happen, except that there would be poetry and music at this event
called “Poets for Dinner.” What we found
was a community of artists and artist-appreciators who come together every
third Sunday to share their thoughts and laughs. Throughout the night we were wowed by
performances that dealt with heartbreak, punctuality, unwanted advice, and
sexuality. Mr. Gun even made an
appearance in a poem where he talked about how he could “impregnate the dirt
with bodies.” The featured act was an
incredibly talented saxophonist and poet who combined his arts to create a
beautiful auditory experience.
All these performances invited audience participation,
blurring the lines between performer and observer and drawing us in even
further. The acts were punctuated by energetic
hostesses who balanced the seriousness of some poems with playful banter and
hugs. Our group couldn't help but be
drawn in by the raw honesty of the people who openly shared their stories and
embraced vulnerability. At the end, everyone
in the gallery held hands in a circle to again mix the serious and humorous by
doing the wave and then reflecting on all that is good in our lives. As we left, we realized we had just
experienced a community gathering that will never be exactly the same
again. Moving into this week we will
carry the idea that everyone has hidden talents, and that Baltimore cannot be
defined by a “single story.”
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