“Remembering the performances”
De’Anna: They were both so captivating and inspiring. I want to do that some day. Especially, what Rommi Smith had performed with the reciting of well known poetry in the voices they were originally wrote in.
Daisy: She recently came to CSI and performed some of her poetry with a jazz bassist. I really enjoyed her performance it was different and I liked how she used different voices when she read each poem it was a unique experience for me.
Kayla: I was honored that we were going to be given the privilege to meet such prestigious poets FOR FREE and for them to come all the way to little Staten Island just for us and their performance blew away my expectations
Iqra: Well its quite obvious for me the reason why I would remember such poetry event and that’s because this was something I got to experience first time in my life. Rome’s smith performance let me amazed! her voice was everything! Tracie Morris was able to make connections. She was able to recognize her audience through her vocal skills. Thats what kept the two poets going.
“The parts that stuck out in our mind”
De’Anna: Traci Morris’s voice and combinations of word and sound was something i never experienced before. Rommi Smith (my fav) was an absolute treasure. The voices she channeled in her reciting poetry was something I would as a child when i read to my stuffed animals. Rommi and I had a connection.
Daisy: The most memorable part of the performances would be the fact that they incorporated sound into their work and it went together with their performance and it kept the viewer listening. Also, this was my first time attending a poetry event so this event will stick with me for a long time.
Chan: Her acting will stay in my memory because she wasn’t afraid to look “crazy” or different. Her voice is her key instrument and she has mastered the craft of sound poetry.
Iqra: The poets were able to show more than just tell. They both found their voices and delivered them in a very unique way and that is one reason why I look upto them because I also want the readers to make connections when they are reading my piece.
“These memories will probably change and grow over time”
De’Anna: Ultimately the performances we know of will continue to grow and change because we learned that both talents make use of improvisation. Improvisation in life is quite normal. It teaches us to realize that we are not always in control, that rather being present and in the moment potentially holds more value among peers.
“Remembering these performances may help us live life”
De’Anna: I interacted with Traci Morris after the event and she gave me some pretty solid advice about publishing personal literary works that I really appreciated and will most likely make use of.
Chan: Tracie Morris overcame fear. As a woman of color, there is fear all around me. The fear of being stereotyped, the fear of being left out or chosen last. But Morris doesn’t show any fear when she stands up to perform. She gives a performance with her entire being. She stands out by choice and it is such a brilliant choice. Her courageous acts taught me about myself. Despite the neighborhood you come from or the education of your parents, you can make art out of any negative situation . Tracie Morris made art of her hardships and overcame. I intend on doing the same when I become an educator.
Daisy: Remembering these performances will help me in the future because what I took away from both performances is that no matter how accomplished you get, it is always a good thing that you are able to give back and teach others what you have learned.
Iqra: Since, this was my first sound poetry and it was a hit I feel like I’m always going to talk about it, look back into and keep it in mind when writing. These performances are definitely going to help me live as the poets themselves said stay true to yourself, stay humble and get rid of what you don’t need in life. This definitely will keep me going as a writer.
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