Thursday, May 14, 2009

Listen Up & Tune In to The SpeakEasy Cafe Open Mic Poetry Show - "Sound of Ink"

If you love to write/hear poetry, check out The SpeakEasy Cafe's "Sound of Ink" Open Mic Poetry night on Blog Talk Radio every Thursday Night at 6pm Central Time / 7pm Eastern Time:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/speakeasycafe

I plan on becoming a regular contributor to this poetry open mic on the radio!

This week was my first appearance. If you missed the show, just download the free podcast from iTunes for Thursday, May 14th, 2009!

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?i=54941669&id=299192853

If you fast forward to approx. 8 min. 30 sec., I chat with the show's host and read my poem "One Story" (inspired by the film Synecdoche, New York by Charlie Kaufman) until minute 12:12.

Thank you for reading and listening!

Here is the poem, "One Story"

One Story

There are nearly thirteen million people in the world. None of those people is an extra. They're all the leads of their own stories.

~Charlie Kaufman, from his film, Synecdoche, New York


Playing the lead in a haystack,
existing side-by-side in our solitary lives,
solace comes when we join these needles together –
the thread of life.

Jumping into character,
taking leave of the present world –
who wears your clothes when you sleep?

I am just a forgotten pebble –
a spark of granite daring to glint.
You see me walking down the street –
out of focus lines of arms and legs –
a disappearing narrative.

The screens keep getting wider –
a stage full of leading ladies and leading men.
They all spin in circles –
red curtains flying.

The cleaner, unheard,
leaves all untouched except the dust.
The man attached to his phone,
alone on the airport walkway –
his family waits.
The actress learns her lines on a threadbare couch,
sitting on hope.
We are all One Story.

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2009
www.FirkinFiction.com

Friday, May 01, 2009

A Mother's Day Poem - PASS IT ON!





Mother’s Day
(for my mother)


Anticipating needs,
in tune with moods –
even from across the ocean.
The road to home begins
with the memory of a mother’s welcome.

When you walked with unstable gait,
she held one finger for reassurance –
two fingers for balance.

With blue spotlights shining
on a stage of dancers in pink tulle,
her applause filled the room –
her pride lifting your arms even higher.

The science project that refused to spin,
sent her on a late night, craft store expedition.
The satin ribbon still sits in a box of reflection.

Walking down the aisle, you notice perfection –
a mother’s precise planning.
Smiles appear –
framed by white flowers and ribbons on pews.
Platters arrive with culinary concoctions for every palate.
Boxes and boutique bags are whisked away and stored,
as your car travels to the first night’s chateau –
a trip with your honey to the moon.

On this day of mothers,
all standing in a row of love,
let the thank you from your lips
reach the patient ears
of the woman listening
for all of these years.


Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2009
www.FirkinFiction.com


FREE POEMS! I will be giving away free, signed copies of this Mother's Day poem, printed on parchment paper at the upcoming Aprons in the Wind show, Sat. May 9th, 2009 at The Lakes Gallery in North Lake, Wisconsin. Local businesses will also have copies to give out Mother's Day week-end, as a special promotion to give poetry as a gift! The two fine art/poetry giclee collections in collaboration with artists Anne Wall and Holly Kallie will be on exhibit (May 1- June 2) at The Lakes Gallery as well! www.lakesfineart.com

Distribute Widely! If you would like to have this special poem to give to your mother, just e-mail me, and I will send you a copy to print out! I will also have this poem on the Home Page of my website. Pass on the link!

GIVE THE GIFT OF WORDS!