Anne Marie began performing her
poetry in August, 2001. Finding more and more confidence in
voicing her own written work, and believing that she had a message to
share, she produced two performances at Restaurant 1050 in New
York. Over the next several years she expanded these performances,
incorporating other actors as well. Venues included Shelter Studio
Theatre in NY, Havana Bay Cafe in NJ, and several NYC public
libraries. Her work has been published in Signifyn Harlem,
and she has performed with other poets at the Schomburg Library in
Harlem. In 2003 she produced Soul Jam, a poetry and music
collaboration with other poets. She has lectured and read her work
at various schools and colleges.
Her
performance pieces with poetry are very urban in nature, and the casts
are always multi-ethnic and multi-generational. Actors have
included Justine Cox, Carla Brothers, Suzanne Jackson, Phyllis Bash,
Joyce Lyons, Bev Ritchie, Elizabeth(Chachi) Hueska, Kalimi Baxter,
Rhondi Miller, Myuki Tajonera and Federica Baldan. Audiences
have likened the pieces to For Colored Girls, and The Vagina
Monologues.
Anne
Marie enjoys giving seminars on poetry and its possibilities for
staging, concluding with a performance of her work. She looks
forward to working with your school or organization in developing pieces
that suit your needs, as well as incorporating your students or members
in the performance. Please contact her through the Contact
page, and begin to explore the possibilities together...
The
poetry listed below is a very brief sampling of her work over the
years...
A
BAG’S LIFE
Early
one morning after making
it through the subway turnstile to wait
for a train, a route I used to take
I noticed a moving object
making its way, rambling through
the station
If
it had been the desert out west
it might have been a tumbleweed
Not clear what I was seeing
a small person?
an extra large rodent?
In Manhattan it could be anything!
My
eyes finally get a clear view
it’s a black plastic Bag
full of air
meandering and dancing
strolling low to the ground
deciding whether or not
to take the
train
I guess
Next thing I see is it makes
its way to the turnstile.
I
then wonder
where is it going?
wonder
who it’s going to see?
where it’s
been?
where it’s going?
Is there any Knowing in this Bag?
that space, time and the elements
have given life to
after
all it’s just a plastic
Bag (which at the moment is awake)
that most throw
away
Not
today
It’s another passenger
for the MTA
or perhaps it will meet
its end on the tracks
Not sure what the
outcome
will be
It’s only what I see
A bag’s
Life
WOW
Does
anyone see
Or was its journey Just For Me
Observing life
Is better than TV
It’s Re-al-li-tee!
3/22/04
A
HOE
Excuse
me,
Who you callin’
a HOE?
OH NO
Don’t go
There
No Mo the Hoe
Do you know a
Hoe?
It’s a tool to till the soil
Not used to
Disrespect
Condemn or Judge
Any woman
Not a place for you to go to get off
And then say “THAT HOE”
It
can aid in fertilizing the soil
But a hoe is a
hoe
Sooo,
DON’T GO THERE
As NO MO
Can you throw
The
HOE word around
You cheapen the universe
And WOMANHOOD
It’s
Not Good
So,
unless you pick
up the tool and till the soil
You
better zip the lip
And the Pants
Cause the HOE is your Belief
No
Hoe No Hoe
Somewhere above
Soho
But never a proper
Or improper name
So the next time
You feel those words
Ready
to roll
Go to
the mirror
And let it Flow
Cause you speak of yourself
LIFE is a
Mirror
Watch it or you’ll end up
Damaged
Goods
RESPECT MUST BE PAID!
11/14/01
SEASONS
Summer
is the time of growth,
When
nature reaches it’s highest peak.
The
sun’s warm light makes nature grow.
Autumn
is nature’s old age.
The
leaves turn brown,
Then
they fall to the ground.
Winter
is the time of death.
Everything
is cold and wet.
Nature
seems to be numb
Or
in a deep sleep.
Spring
is nature’s reborn time.
Little
sparks of life appear,
Buds
on trees, or blade of grass
We
are like the seasons
Changing
with the times.
Growing
up, then dying
To
be born to a new life.
Spring
1968
A Hat
Oh the LADIES in their Sunday finery.
Ascot in England Has nothing on these WOMEN
OF HARLEM
on their way to Praise and Worship.
They Honor their lives
their being
in their appearance
their Style.
They exude pure DIGNITY, Self-Respect, Honor and FREEDOM
FREEDOM
from the History of abuse, misuse, use
FREEDOM from being a possession.
SELF-Empowerment
was the power needed to move
these lives from the Destruction of Ego
WHITE EGO!
You Can Take That and STICK IT
Cause
you’ll never have
the HOLD
the CHAINS
the SHACKLES
over these WOMEN any more.
They
have Found their Strength in FAITH
in PRAYER
And
in SONG.
Their
“Great Greats” had to Hang on to Hope and BELIEVE
in the DIVINE
Order of Life
that
they were EQUAL
if not SUPERIOR
to those who tried to blow out their FLAME
their Passion.
An impossible mission
PASSION IS PASSION!
LIFE
IS PASSION!
So
these Lovely Ladies, these WOMEN among WOMEN
Honor
themselves and their
ANCESTORS
At their call to Worship,
It’s a beautiful thing to observe
It’s a beautiful thing to know these individuals
CAN RISE and MOVE FORWARD.
In
spite of Who or What tries to
drag them into the WORLD of
darkness, disregard, disrespect, disenfranchised, displaced, disgruntled
You cannot DIS these WOMEN
cause they’re ALL HOOKED UP.
You
couldn’t BLOW UP their SPOT if you tried.
They
have self-respect and human dignity as their guide,
Resulting in Pride.
These
WOMEN are ROYAL as they make their way to Worship.
All the History
The Mystery
Floods in
We
must Never Forget
What brought us to where WE ARE.
These
WOMEN are our call to Recognize, Acknowledge, Honor
And
Keep in Check
Respect of Self and Others.
WE ARE moving FORWARD
Get
with the Program
NO ONE will Keep US down again.
Never give YOUR power away
Use it to heal you,
Your family, your
neighbors, your community, your country,
your nation, your world and the Universe.
Cause
what these Hats
these WOMEN who sport these HATS
Represent
Is a RESURRECTION of LIFE!
THEY RIIISSSSE!!!!
We must remember many that have yet to find the way
to RISE!!!
As Ego Power Driven beings continue to
Stamp Out
LIFE.
Yet there is hope the
Sun will Rise!
It’s Sunday and signs of a New Day and
Life Rising is EVERYWHERE.
Who Knew all that
Could be embodied in a
HAT?
6/10/2001
LATE
“I’m
Late, I’m Late
for a very
important ….”
I’m not the White Rabbit and this
is not a
children’s story
from Lewis Carrol’s imagination
This is
REAL
I’m Late
Really Late
I’m Late for the Adventures
of meee!!
I’m Late because I’m Late because
I’m Late.
Late for work, for school, for the bus,
For workouts, for meetings, rehearsals,
For friends, family appointments and dates.
I’m
Late; I’m Late yes I’m Late
I HATE that I’m Late
That anyone or thing
Should have to WAIT
Because I’m Late.
Late
creates lack of trust, disrespect
And arrogance
My time is
more important
Than yours?
I
don’t think Soooo!
I’m Late you betcha
I’m Late.
WHY?
One could make up stories
See if you’d fall for the Bait.
I know I aggravate those who
Wait and Wait.
While
I’m busy squeezing, doing,
running and cramming things in just to
FILL every second not waste time.
So the result is you WAIT.
I have disrespected and disregarded
your life—your journey
MY LATE
CANCELS
Your existence
Diminishes your need violates
Your
time Your space
Late keeps me Late
Lets my Punisher have
Full REIGN
Keeps the adrenaline pumping
in my veins
LATE LATE
Hate
the LATENESS in
ME
Long
to drop it.
There are no tricks to on time
When you’re late
Late
perpetuates self
HATE
A cycle of repetition
Hope it’s not too LATE
To create a different
MO
You
See I am Late, I’m Late for
a very important date.
YOOUU!
I’ve
made you wait.
I aggravate
I’m
Late I’m Later for life!
WAIT WAIT
Let
me get this straight
I’m Late!
Yes
I’m Late!
Hope
to get this Straight
Lest I remain Late
for Life
Mine and
Yours
