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OpenMic Poetry Night

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By Jodie Spartz

     On Saturday November 16th 2025 I had the pleasure of attending my first OpenMic at Queens Central Library. I have never shared my poetry in front of an audience before. I write a lot of poetry but it never occurred to me to share it. I was so glad I didn't sign up to go first, it was the other poets that gave me the courage to share. I was going to pick one but I ended up sharing two. My appearance isn't in the video, because I was the one recording it; maybe next time I'll ask someone to record for me. The headliner was Jacqueline Jones LaMon. She is an acclaimed poet and author of...                                                                                               What Water Knows, https://nupress.northwestern.edu/9780810143845/what-water-knows/     Last Seen https://www.abebooks.com/9780299282943/Last-Seen-Wisconsin-Poetry-Series-0299282945/plp (Felix Pollak Poetry Prize) and Gravity https://www.amazon.com/Gravity-U-S-Jacqueline-Jones-LaMon/dp/0615837107, U.S.A. (Quercus Review Press Poetry Series Book Award). 

    Ms. LaMon is a recipient of NAACP Image Awards and had formerly served as board member and president of the Cave Canem Foundation, Inc. She is also a certified healing-centered life and creativity coach, she is now Professor Emerita in the Adelphi University Department of English, following her role as Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging. When I walked on the stage before I opened my mouth I looked at this woman and a sense of warmth fell over my spirit. As I was speaking for just a brief moment I saw the spirit of my Grandmother flash through this woman and smile at me. It happened in literally a split second. It would've startled me if I didn't know things like that could happen.

    I spoke with Ms. LaMon after the event and told her how her spirit effected me and seeing my grandmother. She had the same reaction I did like wow, we talked a bit more and I decided to do some research on her myself. She read a poem about the death of her mother, it was a very deep love poem filled with sadness and worldly understanding of what happens to the body during that process. It is always an honor to be apart of writing communities and I am glad that I get a chance to meet those that have come before me and helped pave the way for my stories, poems and reflections to be read and shared. 

Here is some footage from the event 

https://youtu.be/JjWHB4a68C0?si=pLdpsWUa0z42hYGB


Thanks for reading before you leave check this out;  I have four books for sale myself  https://www.lulu.com/shop/jodie-spartz/the-sex-instinct/hardcover/product-2mr8n9m.html?page=1&pageSize=4 and https://www.lulu.com/shop/jodie-spartz-and-taavis-smith/3-stories-2-make-ya-think/hardcover/product-dypjgwm.html?page=1&pageSize=4

See Ya Next Time!



                     -Photo by, Jodie Spartz

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