When I submitted the poem below ("Their Own Beat"), I had my fingers crossed. I really wanted to be part of "Banned! (A Celebration of Banned Books)". It was held on Wednesday, September 25, 7:00 pm as part of the range of activities going on across the country to mark Banned Books Week (September 22-28, 2013) The one I participated in was held at the Mark Twain House & Museum. It was an evening of writers reading original pieces "embracing and interpreting the word 'BANNED'"
Here's my poem (I was the first reader!)
Their Own Beat
Find out what's happening in West Hartfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Man, oh, man, here they come –
Find out what's happening in West Hartfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The proud marchers of the banned book band.
Mark Twain, out in front,
Tossing words in the air and catching them again
Like a catcher in the rye –
Now Mark goes by . . .
See, that’s Alice walking past
In that fine purple suit,
Playing the blues on a purple flute.
Maurice Sendak on spoons
Beating out ribald rhythms –
A bit more cacophonous than harmonious,
But I can feel my ears, my mind stretching to keep up
With the writers, the fighters, the imagination-igniters
The proud marchers of the banned book band.