HUMDINGER'S RED CARPET On occasion, Humdinger guests deserve the Red Carpet for significant literary achievements, such as the coveted Poet Laureate. When you find a guest here, you're in for a rare glimpse at a writer or poet that is making strides in literary progress. Welcome, Middlepoet! Humdinger congratulates you, not only for your talented performance poetry, but also for supporting your contemporaries and inspiring a new generation of poets and writers . . .

Introduction of Middlepoet by Txpoet: Humdinger Literary E-zine is honored to have Middlepoet, the former poet laureate (2004) of Jersey City, New Jersey share his work with us.  From my former Txpoet days at AskMe.com as the Number One Poetry Writing Expert, a position my fellow poets helped me earn, I encountered a variety of poetry and came to the point where I could detect a poet artist. When I read Middlepoet’s submission, I thought, “Oh, this is something magnificent. Not average.” And he wasn’t.   Before we get to Middlepoet's poetry (though you must be dying to read it), first consider his article that teaches us how to PERFORM our poetry for an AUDIENCE. As he explains it, almost any of us can do it—if we have the right advice. And we do.   The basics of performance poetry   Performance poetry, or spoken word, is the oral performance of a written piece of work. In recent years, spoken word has gained an immense amount of popularity, with thanks to shows like Russell Simmon’s Def Poetry Jam and movies such as Slam and Slam Nation.           New spoken word poetry nights are popping up all over the place and conventional music open mic’s (mikes) have begun to embrace poets and their words. As a performance poet, I have had the opportunity to travel the country performing at various venues in various poetic contexts. During my travels, people ask: how can one get started in the performance poetry world? In this article, I will answer some of the basic questions, although there is no surefire way to gain fame in the sphere of the spoken word.           As with all other forms of writing, it is of the utmost importance that the writer writes from the heart. When performing a poem, the performance will suffer greatly if it is perceived as insincere. This is a mistake commonly made by performance poets as they start out; there is a tendency to write for the crowd, which turns the poem into a monologue. Also, when a writer speaks from the heart, then there is a much greater likelihood of the audience connecting with the performer, as they will find something within themselves that relates to the poem.           People often wonder if it is better to memorize the piece as opposed to reading it off the paper; the answer is quite simple, MEMORIZE! When a poem is memorized, the poet focuses on the performance of the piece instead of the specific content. It is much easier to work on the subtle inflections of voice and tone that make the performance of a piece compelling. Also, when a poem is memorized, the poet is able to make eye contact with specific audience members. Eye contact is an easy way of keeping people interested in what you are saying. Reading from a piece of paper can be distracting, especially if the poet is nervous. A nervous poet will have shaky hands, thus the audience will see the paper flapping away. I once performed from paper and was so nervous that when my hands started shaking, I couldn’t read the paper. Needless to say, it was very embarrassing.           So, once the poem is memorized, a performance can be developed. Rehearsal is a must! Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse! The more you rehearse, the better prepared you will be for a performance and the more comfortable you will feel in the performance. When performing, every hand gesture and body movement must have a purpose. There should not be any extraneous movement, as that will distract the audience. However, not enough movement will cause the audience members to lose interest.           When approaching the stage, be sure to be confident and go directly into the performance. All too often, poets try to explain their poem before they perform it. The sad truth is that if the poem needs an explanation, then it failed as a poem. Also, when a poets ramble before their performances, they give off the appearance of being nervous while wasting precious face time. Speaking of face time, a common question many poets have is: how long should a poem be? At the absolute longest, a poem should not be longer than three minutes performed. I generally try to keep my poems at around two minutes in length. The average audience member has about a two or three minute attention span, after that they will lose interest or worse, become annoyed at a poet “hogging” the mike. When performing in a slam, the time limit is three minutes; anything longer will affect the poet’s score. I performed a poem for the first time in public at a slam. A slam is a contest of sorts in which each poet reads his poem and then is given a score from a panel of judges. The judges are selected from the audience, and audience members are encouraged to cheer the poet, and boo the judges when necessary. The slam has been immeasurably helpful in promoting the spoken word art form as it gives a level of energy to a reading that otherwise would not exist. However, the slam is also VERY competitive, and thus sometimes the focus will stray from the actual merit of the poetry. For more info about slams, go to www.poetryslam.com. This is a very informative site that also lists slam venues throughout the country. Aside from poetry slams, there are countless places to read and perform poetry. Open mikes are everywhere. This is where the new poets must prove themselves and gain experience. Unfortunately, there is no guaranteed way to achieve success in performance poetry. But, the one thing that is known is that a poet must become addicted to performance. The more one performs, the greater the likelihood of being offered features and other paying gigs. One tool that I have found to be extremely useful in my own career is the Internet. I have found that those poets who have a strong web presence are the ones who are more likely to get the gigs. Also, having a website lets fans find where you will be performing next. These are just a few pointers for the budding young performance poet. I would like to say however, that few things are as gratifying as a round of applause at the end of a performance. Plus, performing a poem is a very cheap form of therapy; that is, of course, if you don’t mind sharing your innermost thoughts and feelings with a room full of strangers.   Happy writing! Middlepoet www.middlepoet.com  WINNERS' LIST (SO FAR):   Garden Poetry: Angel Logan, "Tiger Lily;"    Comic Poetry: Les Combs, "So Big;"    Christmas Short Story/ Christmas Poetry: Remona W. Winston, "Christmas Ain't What It Used to Be;"   Christmas Short Story: Liz Donovan, "The Reason Why There are Red Fuzzies All Over Your Chair Today" Refrain By Middlepoet   What makes Middlepoet’s poetry different? Middlepoet probably would comment that his poetry is no better than another’s. He strikes one as humble and caring, though his poetry IS refined, honed and melded into performable works of art. You can hear some of his performed poems at his website: http://www.middlepoet.com   In the poem below, “Refrain” by Middlepoet, we jump headfirst into a deep love, not the artificial stuff that’s concocted in skin mags or in romance novels (though it is that too), but rather, a real sort of love. She is “the answer to the riddle/of my middle” while the lovers are: “liquidating emotional constipation,/that leaves/vaporized/ through laxatives/of telepathic variations.” If you’re thinking, Who would have thought it? you’re right. Original language and its manipulation are hallmarks of poetic genius and what sets poets apart from one another. You’ll notice pieces of literary (Jonah, Ulysses) and contemporary history (national geographic channel, roast beast—remember the Grinch who carved that roast beast?). Look at the variety of line lengths and unexpected breaking points Middlepoet has countered with the expected breaks. The element of surprise is essential when entertaining an audience and Middlepoet knows it.   In “Refrain,” Middlepoet creates a love that divides and strengthens in division in a poem that does the same. Altogether a gentle-rushing piece of love.   Txpoet     Refrain By Middlepoet   In her reflection, I find resurrection. The answer to the riddle of my middle, merging into, what will become.    Red wine relaxation through pulled blunts exhalation, reflecting upon specific stagnations,   touching sensually fused sensations.   Messages eluded a massaged hypothesis,   forming a convoluted irony,   burning back to enlighten me.   It is she.   Liquidating emotional constipation, that leaves vaporized through laxatives of telepathic variations.   We play, stationed two, on a couch not large enough for a future vision of three.   Deciphering the lies of the little,   whittle, riddled, Middle.   Placed in between always unseen inhalation of lamentation.   Burned behind the presence of creation’s imitation, through her sage incense asphyxiation.   Once a man searching for his hood until   I found mine inside of her whisper. Hush, as the moons glide across her sky.   In the present’s presence edutainment was learned.   Watching how she breathes when she is asleep, waiting for when we might rock knock the boots booming in the jeep’s backseat.   The orbits are rotating while the blunt is passing through reality.   The way she breathes at night is poetry!   Cascading, flowing, following, the pronunciation of Shakespearian roaming. The water falling off the resistance of existence. Subsistent on help, to understand God’s plan. Wondering all the while, if, Help, really is on the way.   In her reflection, I find resurrection. The answer to the riddle Of my middle, Merging into, What will  become.    While tongues deliver shivers, to rivers with loaded quivers, passing Moses, sailing abreast of Ulysses. Watching sea’s parting, robbing, Jonah of his fried fish feast.   The presence of her energy smells like Christmas morning, complete with the roast beast.   She is the catamount perched on a white capped mountain top. Dripping a cool spring water essence, of matriarchal calming presence.   Heaven’s treasure of forgotten vulgarity, leaving me and these dreaming eyes of mine combined in chocolate covered dreams, dreamt of cherries lover leaves, falling through fall’s mall fusing Adam with Eve. In a ribbed decadence, surrounding short hills with valleys, rallied together   mentally spending time past sidewalk ending. Embracing the wild things, where, or whoever they are!   In her reflection, I find resurrection. The answer to the riddle of my middle, merging into, what will become.   We wondered what we’d win, after the Vote came in. The miscounted counted into ballots of affection.   Broken up into new ideals simply so we could recreate the power bond surrendered reluctantly after the first immaculate conception. Proudly exulting in orgasmic resurrection.   We take our vacations on the national geographic channel,   it’s cheaper,   and   SHE understands that!   Elemental desires have channeled the fires, plying the pliers, prying the priers, frying the friars.   A suspension of hesitation, providing cupids preordained prescription of a lethal injection.   A 1-2 combination towards the mid-section. A T.K.O, 2nd round, I survived the first so we could give birth   to divinity.   Love, left, lady luck laughing, bathing, in her self-prophesized spiritual cleansing.   She is the beginning and end, brethren in this heathen’s heaven,   blocking out the possibility of deviation.   (Because)   In her reflection, I find resurrection. The answer to the riddle of my middle, merging into, what will become.   Read Middlepoet's Brief and Bizarre Bio.

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