AUDIO: Jessica Care Moore Poole dedicates performance to Megan Williams
Photo by Vic Burkhammer
Audio: Jessica Care Moore Poole, at Capitol Center Theater, Charleston, WV, Oct. 1, 2007, dedicates performance to Megan Williams, who was in the audience with her parents.
(49 seconds)
Internationally acclaimed poet Jessica Care Moore Poole performed at West Virginia State University Capitol Center Theater on Monday. She dedicated her performance in Charleston to Megan Williams, who was in the audience. If the name doesn’t ring a bell, just Google it.
The poem the poet refers to in the little audio clip would ostensibly be the title poem to her anticipated third book called “God is Not an American,” due out in the spring from Moore Black Press. She explains that the poem is not about what you might think it would be about.
Her performance was stunning! What passion! She uses poetry to fire our imaginations, to confront us to think and to act on issues that really matter — love and survival. You have the feeling she is making statements that must be made for the good of the community, for the good of us all. I felt more ALIVE on the way out of the theater.
Since the echo in the theater prevented me from obtaining a clear recording of her rapid-fire poetry delivery, you’ll have to go out and buy the book when it comes out to experience the poem. The echo in Capitol Center Theater drew a comment from the poet at one point. We could hear pretty well live, even though my tiny digital recorder didn’t do as well as I wanted in such a large hall. Besides, I never intended to pirate her whole show for public consumption.
Charleston poet Felisha Chase won the slam competition earlier in the evening. You might remember reading a recent Charleston Gazette Innerview column by Sandy Wells on Chase. Congratulations, Felisha Chase. We hope to hear more from you.
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Part of the anchor of the evening was the bring-a-book opportunity for Charleston’s Job Corps Center. I just want to mention the endless need for books for those young people, and that the opportunity to give books or other library material remains open.
Charleston Job Corps Center
1000 Kennawa Drive
Charleston, WV 25311
Phone: (304) 925-3200
