Volcano Art Center Poetry Slam

Well....I've attended a few of these events as a spectator and found them to be fun and lively....so for me the next step seemed naturally to jump right in and get my feet wet. This if my first effort at spoken word in public. I love it and will be doing more of it in the future.
Deep appreciation to Billy for operating the camera and making this video possible.
...and also to the Volcano Art Center who sponsers the slams and who have been supportive of me and my woodwork for many years. These folks have a lot of worthwhile programs going on all the time check them out.
http://www.volcanoartcenter.org/
It seems as though these words might have been written for Tim DeChristopher and his plight with the law but in actuality I made this up over 20 years ago.
***
Come and gather 'round me people, please lend me your ear
'cause I have a little story that I'd like you all to hear
it's a story about life and death, of courage love, and fear
and there are some among you it might do you good to hear
'cause life it has a habit of just doing what it's told
and them that turn there backs on life they're empty, gray, and cold
*
Now the message that I'm trying to put down for you to see
Is all you think, feel, say, and do is all your life will ever be
There's just one sure way I know in life of fulfilling all your dreams
You've got to make a plan up in your mind and don't quit 'til you succeed
'cause life it has a habit of just doing what it's told
and the sweetest fruits in life go to the fearless and the bold
..... it's one of nature's laws...
LOVE!!!
Well, some say love's emotion, not a state of mental health
But mark my words my friends that first you've got to love yourself
To experience loves energy one needn't look too far
'cause love can be found anywhere, even in an old guitar
And life it has a habit of just doing what it's told
But you must learn to embrace it or you'll regret it when you're old
seven x seven / to the seventh power / multiplied by the square root of eternal bliss- Hooray!!!
LOVE!!!
Love's a wonderful sensation; love evokes a good vibration on every street, in every town, in every state, in every nation. Love can rectify the cause and overcome temptation for flagrant degradation to our planetary station. Love can avert annihilation due to corporate contamination of our children's education. We must abate that subjugation of their environmental consciousness and purify the bowels of industrialization in this age of information to harmonize with all creation, so humanity might have a chance at future generations. Now to distillate the essence of this elaborate oration and to simplify the sum of that there quantum mass equation, due to life's inclination towards too much complication we must all take complete control of our personal situation and cause it to exude the aforementioned good vibration. Simply said; if you're not part of the solution, then that's part of the problem. So get with the program 'cause it's later than you think!!!

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• slam
• environmental
• social
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• Kiaweking
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• spoken
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• Bidder70

[TimelessSpace]

Wow, Thomas, you are GREAT, my friend. That you can do this! Amazing!

Great poem!

Aloha, my special friend! :-) Roeleke

[kiaweking]

@TimelessSpace Soooo........ are you able to understand my speaking voice clearly? I remember years ago you requested me to post lyrics to songs and I have do this ever since then, except I notice this video is the only one in which I have forgotten to do so.

Be well my TimelessSpace-catseyes4you-Dut­chCutties-Roelekesplace-Collab­Celebs-Justspecialforyou-Twirr­etwarre and hedgehoghugging friend ;-))

[RonIrelandmusic]

Bravo, Thomas! I've not been to a poetry slam. You did a great job.

peace,

ron

[kiaweking]

@RonIrelandmusic Mahalo nui loa Ron. I highly recommend finding one and just checking out the vibe. The ones sponsored By VAC are pretty low key and a real fun fest. Audience participation is encouraged and judges are often booed for underrating. All in good fun. I didn't win anything, but I had a blast doing it. The content I borrowed from a song I did years ago.

A hui hou,

Thomas

[luvperu1]

Hi Thomas--What a pleasure watching you

recite your poetry..You look very comfortable

and at ease..Would never guess it was your

first time speaking in front of a group of people..

I wish you a beautiful week...Polly

[kiaweking]

@luvperu1 I think I was not as clear as I could have been. I've spoken in public before but it's the poetry slam that is new to me. When I did the story telling contest last summer there was an audience of about 2000 people and I had to take the stage immediately following Cyril Pahinui. That was a hard act to follow. Still, I'm lovin' it.... I coulda been in show biz.....LOL

Take good care Polly,

Thomas

[kiaweking]

Aloha Jane,It was my first time up as a performer but it won't be my last. I had a great time. While new to me these poetry events have been going on for years. Some of the performers are really fantastic. I hope your summer is full of fun and laughter too.

Bless,

Thomas

[Cameragirl803]

You did a terrific job in front of that audience! You seemed very relaxed, and your words flowed perfectly!!! Enjoyed your wonderful poem!!! Bravo!! *****

[kiaweking]

@rich2rock Aloha Rich, Thanks for checkin' in here. Yes, it's fun to try something a little different. I was really impressed with the other poets presenting that evening too. If you get the chance to attend on of these go! ?Even the audience gets to participate by booing the judges if they don't like the way they rate. It's all in good fun. Glad to know you've got upgraded on the hardware. Blessings from the land of aloha.

Thomas

[rich2rock]

Very good presentation. Hey, have you ever heard from ol Tim? I have never heard from him since. He probably found someone else with a better studio or something. It took awhile, but I finally got a way better computer to record with now. Good to see you doing something new. Take care Thomas.