Tag Archives: Writers

Writers in the Woods: Spoken Word

By Beth Portesi

Rhythm, rhyme, sound, words and meaning encompassed the second of the Writers in the Woods series. The evening included a one hour spoken word presentation followed by an open mic on Friday, Sept. 20, at Sierra Nevada College. This served as a platform for individuals to express their personal philosophies and life experiences through poetry and narratives.

In a generation where communicating is done through anything that has a touch screen or news feed, the Spoken Word was a breath of fresh air. A reminder of how connected we are as humans, how we all experience love and tragedy, peace and chaos. I was mesmerized by each word of the roughly 10 speakers who reflected on personal growth, expressed dissatisfaction with modern society, and playfully expanded on random thoughts.

If someone had suggested I attend a poetry reading on a Friday night, chances are I would have declined because I have never taken much interest in it. After attending the event, you can find “slam poetry” in my Youtube history and an email subscription to the local Spoken Views Collective newsletter. And extra credit had nothing to do with it. Each of these beings humbled my heart as they bravely and openly explored the truest of human experiences.