Poetry's Gift

I'm a performance poet. What a surprise it was to discover this talent after the death of my brother, Chris. Depressed and grief-striken, my friend Val challenged me to put my feelings on paper a couple months later. It was so cathartic as words mingled with tears poured onto the pages of a notebook. I also wrote about the life my two brothers and me shared with my parents, who both died years before Chris. Weeks passed before I read any of it to Val. When I finally did, I thought I'd put them away for good. But Val had different ideas. Next thing I knew, I was facing an audience with her and my new poet friends. When it was my turn, I stood in front of a microphone hoping no one noticed my cracking voice, shaking hands, and knocking knees. Things snowballed after that first time. Nearly ten years later, I've read at numerous venues around the country and have had experiences I never dreamed of when I sat down to write those first few poems. I've also been blessed to meet and perform with prolific wordsmiths whose words inspire me long after the performances are over. Passionate thankgiving each day keeps me from wasting this special gift which has only enriched my other journalistic talents. Yes I'm still a bit nervous when I step onto a stage and look into an audience. But my poetry history began long before I knew I had it in me.