Here's the Written Images website people so hit it up for what I'm talkin' about. However, let's get back to last night.

http://p221.ezboard.com/bwrittenimages


Of the 27 poets who performed I have to give my 'get the fuck back up' award to my dude KIIING!! Every poet has gotten on stage with a prepared piece ready, but for some reason or another we can not get through it. Well KIIING had that experience last night. But he did the damn thang and came back strong with a piece dedicated to his unborn child, which spoke volumes about fatherhood, faith, and family. So a big ups to the poet who fell and rose by the end of the night!!

Another big shout out goes to Devine. Now I may be wrong about this name, but this poet got up there and did a piece supporting black men!!! And damn was it the bomb!! Now I know that as men we go to poetry spots, and venunes and stuff, and sometime we get bombarded with male bashing pieces. But this was not the night for that!! When Devine got up there and did her thing, I for one, was proud and honored to be not only a male, but a Black male. As GA Me commented after the piece, that females have been working on their self esteem issues, we as Black men have not been working on ours, and we know that we should. But it took a true Queen to remind us that even though we have our short-comings and faults, we still have worth. So a big up goes out to Devine, or the poet who did that piece....she knows who she is!!

The one and only vocalist who came through was Norris Bates, and this brotha was GREAT!! Now I know that it was a poetry function, but it took a vocalist to bring that old skool flavor to bring the crowd together as the family that we are. Norris, let me tip my hat to you brotha, because you can sing, you got the crowd up off their feet, and you brought us together with the clapping of hands surrounding your soul. I enjoyed you greatly!!

I must stop here and give props to the performance that I loved to hate. When truth hits u in the face, sometimes you don't know how to react, and the brothas who collaborate to make Quiet Rage did just that. They did a piece about rape which was simply honest and heartbreaking at the same time. And for people who witness these brothas and this piece will be knocked off their rockers. It broke down rape, from a male standpoint and was so brutally honest. I went up to one of them after the show, and was really unable to tell them how much it affected me, and really I don't think that I will ever put it into words. Therefore, it you ever get a chance to witness Quiet Rage, then do yourself a favor and go see them. I promise you won't be disappointed.

I have to send personal shout outs to the Vocalized Ink (VI 4 lyfe shawtie) family, EButterfield, Starr Lisa and the whole click who has supported me and poetry. As well as Tommy Bottoms, Abyss, Queen Sheba, Cocktails, and the whole ATL clickalation. Let me also shout out Goddess of Light and UpFromSomeDirt, who did not perform, but was there in attendance. And Up, you know that I love reading you, and I ain't alone, so please brugh, give us something, a book, a cd, I know u got a website, but we want more!!

What can I say that would personify this night for you....nothing, you had to experience it, you have to experience it. So for those not in attendance, get ready for 07, holla at Amberly, let the lady know that she did the damn thang, and WE LOVE HER FOR THAT!!!.....

I'm thinkin' that I'm gonna be endin' this thang now, cuzz it's long enough, but check the site http://p221.ezboard.com/bwrittenimages for pictures updates, and bomb ass poetry!!! Keep your words alive, keep your spirit alive, and keep your third eye open as you fill notebooks with the ink of our lives.....THANK YOU WRITTEN IMAGES!!!!

6/16/06 Written Images Poetry Fest!!!!--Atlanta, GA shawtie!! What a night what a beautiful night. I could not have asked for more, and would be a fool if I have.

First off allow me to thank The Most High for bringing the family again safely, may you all return home the same.

Secondly allow me to thank Amberly of Written Images for having the forethought and pushing on with the success of her board and having the Poetry Fest!!! Much Love Am, you are my hero!!! It takes a lot to plan and put together an event such as this, but you did it lady. And you did it with style and class--take a bow poet!!

Let me shout out the poets who (I saw) assisting Amberly which were Passion Poet and Erob. I saw Passion get the show started, and I saw Erob givin' love and helpin' poets find whatever they needed!! You guys are not only excellent hosts, but excellent friends and poets!!

DAMN have I mentioned the fact that all three of these poets put it down on stage tonight!!!! You know that ya'll held it down in your own right, and I admire you for it. A special thanks goes out to them as well for supporting your boy and buying the cd, ya'll got me all teary and shit...so let me progress instead of digressing...

Now our hostess for the evening was no other than the Queen of Poetry herself, Tony award winning poet Georgia ME. Now I have to give the Queen her props on several different levels. One on the fact that she remembered me from Cafe 290, like 2 years ago. To me that showed that she listens, and remembers, and she's real life--I appreciate poets who remember encounters. To me GAME (that's short for Georgia Me, for ya'll who don't recognize) is a star in the spoken word world; a Tony award winner, Def Poet, world traveler, etc...So in all fairness, she could be snobby if she wanted to, hell she got the resume for it, but that ain't her. She is truly a lady, and conducted herself as that all night!! The other thing that really impressed me was that she was hosting, and she could of stepped to the mic and gave us some poetry, but she didn't. She was there to host, and she did a fantastic job at it. I do kinda wish that she would of done a piece though, but her professionalism shined through all night and I love her for that!!!

Now the feature for the night was a true poet legend--Taalam Acey (www.taalamacey.com) Now I have heard of Taalam, I heard Taalam on the web, but I have never experienced the brotha in person. And I have to tell ya'll this, this is one of the coolest and most humble brotha's I have run across. The way that I met the brotha was crazy though; see they had a meet and greet at a club in Buckhead Friday night. Now granted, I have seen the brotha's picture before, but I didn't study it or dwell on it, u know, I just don't get down like that...anyway, I'm at the club with my lady on the dance floor area, and I stepped outside to have a smoke. So I'm up there chillin' with Amberly, Abyss, and a few other poets, and I'm standin next to Taalam, and I introduce myself as Nabraska, and he said he was Taalam. Now I felt like boo boo the fool...my mouth dropped and shit....and I ain't gonna front, I was jockin', not hard, but noticeable. And for that Taalam, I apologize. You just never know how you will react when you come across someone that you admire so. Anyway, his performance was all that it's been built up to be!! If you ever get a chance to witness this brotha in person I don't urge to you go see him, I order u too. So check his site, buy his cd, I know I got mine, and support, you won't be disappointed.

Now at this juncture I will say that there were 27 poets who read. There were poets there who didn't read. Unfortunately I cannot comment on all those 27, and the ones that I miss please know and understand that you gave freely of yourself and you touched me, truly!! But your picture will be seen and your words have been heard....I will continue this post tomorrow, cuzz it's 4 in the damn morning!!