
before I turn left, then right.
Ten more seconds to decide –
Which lines will it be?
What feels right on this Friday eve?
Mind searching, scanning
for the feel right poems.
This one, too long.
That one, too sad.
Love is the answer that came to me,
just before the light turned green.
Of course! Love is the theme
all month long.
Embrace it.
Bask in it.
Soon, the month of Love will be gone.
That settled, I drive on.
The front lot is full, a different scene.
I am late.
Heart racing.
Love and a late arrival will do that to me.
I sneak through a side door and find a back row seat.
Other poets and writers, I celebrate.
Then it’s my turn to speak.
My boots have heels, that disturb the peace.
click, click, click, click, click, click
I am not embarrassed.
I enjoy the rhythm and sound they make.
My entrance, filling the silent space.
Mic lowered, I introduce myself to hidden smiles.
Only eyes, staring at me.
Then I read two Love poems from my scrolling screen.
Then another from my second collection
before masked strangers, now friends, depart.
Pleasantries exchanged –
poets, writers, musicians, and audience members
more human than when we came.
Mask off, breathe.
Drive into the dark, breathe.
Sunroof open, breathe.
Inhale, notice, see.
Senses delight.
Stars shine brilliantly.
A poetic night.
A vibrant tapestry.

Last Friday night I participated in my second poetry reading, hosted by a west valley Art Association (WHAM). It was a night of connection and needed escape, away from my computer screen, during a two-day writing conference hosted by Arizona State University. Thank you for visiting and reading my poem about reading poems.😉 Be well. 💗 Michele
© 2021 Michele Lee
Priceless intimacy!
“To Love and understand love; Love must be uppermost on your Mind,
inner most in your Heart
and deepermost in your Soul.”
_-Van Prince
*Post Scritt*<Your poem is a mamifesto to a prelude to true love<
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It may take me a lifetime, and then some, to fully understand love, but I suppose mystery is part of the joy. Thanks for stopping by.
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Priceless contri bution to love!
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Poetry with perfect hair👍🤜
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I am not sure about that. It was a windy night. haha
Thanks though.
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🙄🤦♂️😂
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Hi Michele,
Aww! that’s nice experience…😊
So lovely poetry…👏😊
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Thanks, Amit. I do enjoy reading my poetry. Audio poems help to bring lines to life – even more enjoyable when I can engage with an audience. This was a quick write this morning, but I do appreciate your comment. 😊
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OMG, AWESOME poem Michele! I know you had a great time. The camaraderie is always so magical at open mics! 😀 I certainly enjoy the whole experience. 😉
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Thank you, Kym. You are too kind and generous. I scribbled these lines early this morning, during the twilight. Yes, it was a rush to get there, but enjoyable. Engaging with uplifting people (face to face) is a treat these days. 😀 I am happy to read you have enjoyed open mic experiences. I am sure those in the audience delighted in your words. Have a wonderful day and week.
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Oh girl, I think you truly captured the essence of the occasion and your moments leading up to it. Amazing job girlfriend! ❤
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🙏 🤗 😀
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This sounds like such a wonderful experience! I’ve only ever read poems online, so I know I’d be nervous as hell doing it in ‘real life’ but I know I would love it too – and to meet with and exchange ideas with other writers and artists would be so enjoyable! I’m pleased you had such a great time, and recreated the experience for all of us! 😊
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It was a fun night, yes. Thank you, Ingrid. 😊 The host writes response poems to each poem read. In other words, while each poet is reading their poem he writes a response to their poem, then reads it after. It is quite entertaining and amazing. 👏 Thank you for reading my recreated experience. 😁
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I loved your poem about reading poems! Especially the following lines spoke to me clearly – way to beautifully own the space!!
My boots have heels, that disturb the peace.
click, click, click, click, click, click
I am not embarrassed.
I enjoy the rhythm and sound they make.
My entrance, filling the silent space.
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“Beautifully own(ing) the space” is an eloquent way to describe my clicking to the front, which was probably more like a stomping. 👢 haha
Thank you, Pragalbha, for visiting and sharing. 😊
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Wow, this was such an awesome poem. What a neat thing to participate in! Congrats 👏
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I am glad you enjoyed my poetic recount of a poetry reading event.😄
Thank you, Travis.🙇♀️
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Haha! I’ve never read a poem about a poet going to a poetry reading event. It twas extraordinary. Some might say it twas a revelation. 🤔🤗🙃 You’re welcome!
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Well, I had never read a poem about AI from the AI perspective, so happy to know I am keeping up this week! 🤖 😂
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Haahaha! I literally laughed out loud while waiting in my car. I looked across from me, and there is a concerned person staring at me. What can I say we’re trailblazers! 😎🤣
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Keep laughing. Let them look! 😁
I like that! Much better than wearing a blazer on a trail. It is too hot here for that. 😂
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Haha! I did keep laughing! It makes them wonder what you are thinking.That is so true! Funny stuff right there!😂 I did a poem about the sun today just to keep the trail blazing trend going. 🤗
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You go, Michele❣️
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These boots were made for walking, that’s just what they’ll do, one of these days, these boots will… stomp to a mic and read some love poems. 👢💓 hahaha
Thanks, David. 😁
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Right on!! You made my day!! 🎶 👏
I should have sang that on my way to the mic. hahaha
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I love what you’ve done here – the worries about reading words distilled into written words?
Looks a fun evening, tea double oh!
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Thanks for loving my words about trying to decide which words to serve. 😆
That reminds, Nick… how can we apply that same process to our our empty page “Empty Page” poem? 🤔
It was a fun evening of music and words, and love, of course! 🎤👏
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Hm, it’s kinda not-writing itself isn’t it? 😉
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It doesn’t seem to be. My dishes don’t wash themselves either. 🤔
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Congratulations Michele.
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Thank you, Nico. 🙏
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🙂
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Very nice…and the line about your heels made me chuckle. Your poetry is always a pleasure to read. And congrats on the reading! 🙂
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Stepping from the back row, my many steps echoed. 😂
I appreciate you sharing your sweet thoughts. Your poetry transports me to other worlds, other dimensions. ❇️ Thank you. 😄
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Every woman knows that moment, that feeling *click, click, click*…and you captured the humor in it perfectly ☺️
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👠👠😂
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Go Michele!! So proud, my friend!
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😃
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Reblogged this on The Reluctant Poet.
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I’ve heard it said that – “A poem is not a poem until it is published or recited”!! Bravo for you Michele for sending you poems out into the world to touch the hearts of others!!!
xoxo
Chuck
😘💖🌹
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love, love, love this Go in Poet!!
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Thank you, Krissy. 😊 💐
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This is so good! I can feel your joy in being with a group of like minded people! The poetry group that got me started writing shut down a few years ago. Reading for a group is so much fun! Exhilarating!
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Thank you, Dwight. I did feel joy, once I made it to my seat. 😆 It is joyful to connect with like-minded people. Our writing blog community gives us a sense of that. Community gatherings in-person are so rare these days, it was nice to be “out” on a Friday night. I would choose a poetry reading with writers, poets, and musicians over a noisy bar any day, or night. haha I look forward to the next one in April. I appreciate the local art organization making efforts to safely keep people connected. 😀
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Sounds like a great group for you!
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Very brave of you to do that. I couldn’t and my poetry is not long enough but I love spoken word. I’m a fan of John Cooper Clarke and I dig his style.
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Thank you for recognizing that. I think the message is more important than the length of the poem and with short attention spans, short poems can be very effective, so don’t let that stop you. 😀🎤 As a veteran high school teacher, I have had practice speaking to packed classrooms and crowds, although sharing my own work with my students always made me a bit uncomfortable, but I thought it important for them to hear my “voice,” my examples. I never shared love poems with them though. Awkward. 😁
John Cooper Clarke is very cool. 😎 I am a fan. I used spoken word in the classroom whenever I could. I had many favorites. Two that come to mind can be found on a TedTalk. I recommend them if you are interested. Rapper and poet, Akala did a talk on Hip Hop and Shakespeare 💓 and Malcolm London presented a brilliant poem titled, “High School Training Ground.” Thanks for the visit and for reminding me of a witty and entertaining punk poet. 👏
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Ok thanks for the tip Michele, I’ll check them out 🗣
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You are most welcome. If you do, I hope you enjoy them. Akala’s talk is an engaging way to present Shakespeare. Any opportunity to teach Shakespeare, I will take, even if through someone else. 😆
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This is beautiful. ♥️
Congratulations as well!💗
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Thank you, Deborah. It was a wonderful escape and enjoyable connection. 💕 Thanks for stopping by.
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You are welcome Michele.💗 stay safe.
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I will do my best. You too.
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Great post. You are a very good writer and best wishes 🙏🙏🙏
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Thank you, Prakaash. 😊 I appreciate your visit and kind words.
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Beautiful, Michele. You took us along with. So vivid and wonderful, my friend. 😊
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I am glad you came along for the poetic journey! 🚗 🎤 🚗 🌃 Have a relaxing Sunday, Jeff. 😊
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I did, indeed. A lovely journey! Thanks, Michele. You too. 😊
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I started doing poetry reading in 1986. In Ann Arbor. I didn’t like them at first. Were Poetry bashes. I enjoyed reading the poetry in California and Texas. No contest, just kindred people reading and listening to the words. Now in Michigan before the Coronavirus. I read three time monthly. It is fun to read and share our work. I hope you had some fun dear Michele..
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Thank you for sharing your poetry reading journey with me. I found it interesting to read about your different experiences, based on regions. Hopefully you can pick it up again when the become available to you. So many things we will enjoy getting back to. Thanks for the visit. 😀
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Me too dear Michele. We did the poetry reading at the Libraries. I hope they open-up again, ASAP. You are welcome.
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Nice! Our libraries are open with restrictions. I went to one on Sunday – first time in over a year. I hope yours open soon. Keep me posted!
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I hope soon. I am tire of the coronavirus days. Good afternoon from Michigan dear Michele.
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Although I am not a poet…..I can most certainly relate to a lot of things that u have written in the poem ❤️
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Relating to what I have written is a cherished compliment. Thank you for sharing that with me. Connecting with other like-minded individuals is always a gift. 💕 Best to you!
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You too!
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How beautiful the final line of this piece is! I feel like this would be me if I ever faced a room, if my voice was in charge of putting my inner feeling into my words. Breathing would, I think, carry me through.
My favorite connection with this poem, though, is the way the heels of your boots clicked in my mind. I have an addiction to walking up and down in empty halls in heels so as to listen to the very satisfying sound I make. 🙂
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I love that final visual too. It can mean many things, but I wrote it to describe the street lights, the stars, colors whirling by, the eclectic group of readers and musicians, and the music playing in my car – all blending together at the end of a fun night.🎶 🌃✨ Your heel clicking description is funny and awesome. I love that too. Power walking! haha
Thank you, Jaya. 😄
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I bow down to your talent as a poet for i am overwhelmed by your beautiful perfect words, thank you my lovely blog friend.
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A very generous compliment. 😊 Thank you, Jack. Have a wonderful day.
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Such a beautiful poem Michele and I hear the joy not only in your poetry but with the group where you can share your work. What a great gift!
Nicely done and happy you’re having fun! 💖🤗
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Thank you kindly, Cindy. The experience and the organizers are a gift. I look forward to the next poetry reading. I am sure we will still be greeting and speaking behind masks, but for a few moments I can take mine off and share some words. 💓 Thank you for stopping by and sharing yours.
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They sure are and what a great blessing! That’s sooo awesome!!❤️
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Congratulations, dear Michele ~ I enjoy your poetry, and salute your public speaking prowess. Wishing you a splendid week ahead 🤗🌹
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Thank you, Phil. It is very kind of you to say. Best wishes to you and a joyful week.
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I like your style of writing Michele…..it appeals
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Thank you, Don.
I am pleased to read you like my writing style. Sometimes there are many layers to peel and some reading between the lines. I do love writing and sharing in this creative space. 💓
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What appealed in that poetry talk one was way you dealt with getting there…….lights, left then right…’small talk’ if you like……, it was this which appealed…..
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Thank you. I appreciate your feedback. 😄
Inner dialogue retold in a poetic poetry reading tale. I attended another poetry slam a few weeks ago. I was a few minutes early this last time and I did not wear boots. 😆
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Sounds like you figured boots were not the best things to wear…. 🙂
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They were perfect the night I wore them, but I didn’t want to wear out my welcome stomping my way toward the mic each time. 😆
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That could be your signature walk….or could I say ‘signature strut’…..It could say (no, echo) ‘here comes Michele. Sit up and pay attention you lot’)…..
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You might be on to something!
🚶🏻♀️ 👢 🎤 😁
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clip clop clip clop……no it’s not a horse…….two boots, one heel needing repair to match other giving clop clop clop clop….or is it clip clip clip clip?
Disregard him, he’s mad……
So was Spike…..
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