The concept of the poetry “open mic” has its roots in ancient times thru oral performance traditions. Bards like Homer and Bewolf promoted a performative form of recitation in days of yore. The Harlem renaissance of the 1920’s and 1930’s produced figures like Langston Hughes who fused African-American spoken word stylings with jazz rhythms. “Beat” poets like Allen Ginsburg and Jack Kerouac of the 1950’s & 1960’s emphasized rhythmic spontaneous word delivery further influencing modern forms of poetry and prose. More recently the poetry open mics of the 1970’s & 1980’s found their home in locations in New York (Nuyorican Poets Cafe on the Lower East Side) and Chicago, birthplace of today’s competitive “Poetry Slam” format at Marc Smiths’ Green Mill venue. Nowadays, the bond between hip hop and spoken word poetry is apparent, each influencing the other.
Which brings us to Piscataways Public Library’s upcoming Poetry Open Mic Evening on January 15 @7pm hosted by spoken word artist Joseph Reuben Fuller. BestrentNJ.com Piscataway tenants at Rivendell Meadows and Rivendell Village who would like to flex their own spoken word talents are invited to bring it on by clicking here and registering to attend.
For more information please contact Nadine Giron by email at Ngiron@piscatawaylibrary.org
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