Poets 'Seh Sup 'M' for charity

Marcia Rowe, Gleaner Writer

The creators of compact disc (CD) must have got their inspiration from the most compact form of literature - poetry. You see poets, whether in songs, spoken words with accompaniment from an instrument or in its naked form, use a mere few words to speak volumes. Often, with their compact vocabulary, creators of CDs (in this case the poets) take their listeners or readers on a wave of varied topics and emotions - that leave them either joyous or stricken.

So it was for the patrons at last Sunday's monthly poetry showcase, Seh Sup 'M' Poetry & Live Music, held at the Village Blues Bar, located on Barbican Road. The poets, performing their original works, carried the engaging audience on a tide of topics; from religion to politics, from romance to deceptions, while being risqué, philosophical and political. Ultimately, the pieces were downright entertainingly funny.

Michael Abrahams was the first of five featured acts of the evening. "Let me just get right down to the mix-up," he began, before giving a dose of scathing satire on the Manatt, Phelps enquiry. This was followed by what he describes as Al Miller's act for Sting 2011. But the medical doctor showed that he could be serious, when he silenced the audience with a sobering poem that addressed the latest spate of killings of children in Jamaica and is titled, 'Our Children'.

The good, the bad, and the ugly of religion were also explored by the Abraham in Religion. Then he once again made a shift in gears to another 'serious-comical' piece, 'Whe Yuh Seh Yuh Live Again?', that has a stalker as the persona. Up by another notch in humour land, he concluded his stint with a very risqué, 'Eat Out', and by the loud laughter received, the audience obviously enjoyed every bit of it.

edgy

Mel Cooke too was edgy with 'It Reach', and one he claimed was written on behalf of men, titled, 'Men Fake It Too'. Often quoting extracts from the newspaper for clarification, the journalist satirises the Christopher Coke debacle; he referenced the Green Bay killing and the Eventide Home fire. And in a rather creative piece titled, 'Schools', he used the names of schools to tell a rather interesting story. Cooke's final piece came with 'Another Serious Day'.

The evening's only live musical act was Tami Chynn. Her poems, in songs, negotiated the romantic. Every selection was preceded with an explanation of its source. And songs such as Frozen and Can You Feel Me were performed with the diva perched on a high chair. However, to remain seated would have minimised the message and the images of the words Dem Neva Know, her final song.

It was also thumbs up for host of Poetry Society of Jamaica, Yashika Graham, whose poems highlighted the consequence of absentee father in 'Straight Fatherless'; the demands and challenges of the creative minds with 'Dream For All Creators', and a thought-provoking 'Consequence'.

Another of the featured act was Miguel 'Listen to Steppa' Williams. Unfortunately for him it was the 'now-rushed-for-time' part of the show. But the Rastaman was not undaunted, he instead gave a very passionate rebuke in 'Louw The Locks'. Prior to that, he strongly voiced his rejection of the physical gun as a weapon. He called it 'I Man is I Man Gun' and unleashed his disgust at pedophiles in 'Cruft'.

The delightful evening of poetry also had aspiring poets reading their 'naughty-and-nice' poems in a segment called Open Mic.

Proceeds from Sup 'M' will go to the Rotaract Club to assist students in the club's annual inner-city art competition. The Rotaract Club is the youth-programme arm of Rotary International.