Waiting 4 the Bus to Thanksgiving, an Early Update

Announcement...I have an announcement. RE: November 21st (Waiting 4 the Bus to Thanksgiving) Our feature will be Susanna Lang and that's already special, but the Open Mic will be super special. In Honor of the birthday of Lesley Heath Morrow, we will be celebrating with a Poetry Wheel.

The Poetry Wheel is an interconnected round robin where a poem must somehow connect to the poem immediately prior. this connection can be in form, theme, style, etc.

Any connection will do. "that poem was about the Blues and this poem contains the word Blue" is enough of a connection to keep the Wheel of Poetry turning.

I warn you early because this exercise is not for the faint of heart or people who have only written 6 poems.

Write On, brothers and sisters, Write On

Waiting 4 the Bus with Kristin LaTour

Monday, August 15 at 7 PM - 9 PM

Uncharted Books
2620 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, Illinois 60647


Another returning hero to the Summer of Weird. Kristin La Tour is back to give you one F@9K!^^ good night of poetry. One of the original Weirdos.Kristin has been away from the Bus Stop for a little bit and we are excited to have her back.

bring your poems, bring poems by your favorite poets, read stuff.

BYOB
3 poems or
5 minutes
whichever comes first

Still time to register for the Pentathlon

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Pentathlon Events 2016

Signature Piece - Bring your A game

Ekphrastic -An ekphrastic poem is a vivid description of a scene or, more commonly, a work of art. Through the imaginative act of narrating and reflecting on the “action” of a painting or sculpture, the poet may amplify and expand its meaning. register to see your art (everyone has the same pic/photo/painting)

Abecedarian - The abecedarian is an ancient poetic form guided by alphabetical order. Generally each line or stanza begins with the first letter of the alphabet and is followed by the successive letter, until the final letter is reached.

Rant-SELF EXPLANATORY

On the spot prompt - definition- but we're not telling you that till the day of (one of 8 provided choices to be defined or redefined) Definitions can be as simple as the entries of the Devil’s Dictionary ala Ambrose Bierce or something more conceptual and creative. Prompts are always open to the interpretation of the poet.



PENTATHLON ON FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/PoetryPentathlon/
This dynamic competition is a means of testing ALL a poet's skills. Something that challenges them as both a writer and a performer as well as something that proves their ability with classic poetic forms and spontaneous inspiration. Waiting 4 the Bus has developed a genius system for finding the exceptionally talented and creative. The Poetry Pentathlon stands alone as a proper means for testing thepoet/performer. This is not a Poetry Slam – this is the glorious throw down known as the Poetry Pentathlon, a judged poetry reading where contestants compete in 5 events with points awarded on both writing ability and performance style. Warning: the only prizes awarded for the evening are pride and bragging rights; any trophies are gravy and should be considered as such

What you are competing for

WEIRDNESS EXPOSURE AND SELF-PROMOTION

This cynical age is sending poets to the same scrap heap as full service gas stations and penny candy. I have become nostalgic for the days when you needed exact change to buy something from a vending machine, make a telephone call or ride a bus, the days when pockets were for more than cell phones and credit cards. We the upholders of an ancient tradition have become living anachronisms, bards, and matchstick men. A collection of misfit kids standing on the corner, waiting for the bus with exact change in our pockets.
--David (Buddha 309) Hargarten, April 9, 2009.

As a general rule, poets are fringe dwellers.  Poets have opinions, Poets have a skewed view of the universe.  Non-poets (also generally) see poets as shiftless lazy daydreamers who accomplish nothing but navel gazing or they hold poets in awe for being able to explain life, love, truth, or other Platonic Forms.  Neither of those perceptions are true.

Poets are cynical, jaded, acerbic, opinionated, annoying, less than punctual, or more than punctual.  We don't understand, Life, Love, Truth, Beauty, or any of the other Platonic Forms.  That's why we keep writing about them.
The one thing that connects every poet in the universe is that they are WEIRD.

WEIRD in the same way that snowflakes are different, Weird in the way that individual cats have separate idiosyncrasies.  WEIRD in the way dogs attack invisible things and couches.

Poets come in varieties
there are
stage poets
page poets
academic poets
street poets
beat poets
form poets
function poets
free verse poets
pedants
hacks
purebreds
mutts
rhymers
anti-rhymers
context poets
subtext poets
and poets that want to burn grammar

BUT THEY ARE ALL FUCKIN' WEIRD
Are you a poet?
Are you haunted by words?
have you ever caught yourself free forming on public transportation
When I talk about the Weirdo Nation, I could be talking about you.

I would like to say a million more things about poetic misconceptions, but I will limit my comments to the basics.

 centering the text

does not make things

more

poetic

rhyming is not always a good thing

"finding your voice" sounds lame, but is absolutely necessary

listen to all feedback, even if it is negative.

experience and practice is the only way to write better poetry

There are some people who will never "GET" what you write

and finally

WEIRD IS SEXY

YOU SHOULD CHECK US OUT

Esteban Colón returns to Waiting 4 the Bus

https://www.facebook.com/events/1015716368516568/?notif_t=plan_user_associated&notif_id=1466524486292075

Monday, July 18 at 7 PM - 9 PM
Uncharted Books2620 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, Illinois 60647

Details

One of the founders of W4tB returns to dazzle poetry lovers with rhythm, wit, and relevance from deep in the heart of the Summer of Love.

The world has been a dark place lately and it has made us cynical. I want this show to be about hope and the triumph of the spirit. It doesn't have to be hokey my poetic siblings, Some of the greatest masterpieces were built on a foundation of hope.

Like the song says "We all shine on". Let your poetic light shine on July 18th at 7pm.
read your poems
read other people's poems that make you smile
read a poem that moves you to change the world instead of wallow in it, from rants to sonnets, W4tB wants it all.

BYOB,

W4tB Solstice 3 for All-June 20th (open mic)

W4tB Solstice 3 for All
Monday, June 20 at 7 PM - 9 PM

Uncharted Books
2620 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, Illinois 60647

Summer begins on
Monday, June 20, 2016
Waiting 4 the Bus will be celebrating with it's first ever "Solstice 3 for all"
features that night will include Bob Lawrence, Dana Jerman, and Buddha 309. We will also be revivint the tradition of the
POETRY POT LUCK.
EVERYONE CONTRIBUTES A POEM AND IT IS BLINDLY READ BY ANOTHER POET DURING THE OPEN MIC. IT IS AN ODD SHARING OF THE POETIC WEALTH THAT MAKES FOR INTERESTING INTERPRETATIONS.
Len Lundh will handle the MC chores for the evening.
get there on time because we're gonna mess with the format a little and you don't want to miss a second.

Registration open for the 2016 Poetry Pentathlon(closes August 16th)

Poetry Pentathlon 2016
Saturday, September 17th
The Book Cellar
4736 N. Lincoln Ave.

Pentathlon Events 2016

• Signature Piece - Bring your A game
• Ekphrastic -An ekphrastic poem is a vivid description of a scene or, more commonly, a work of art. Through the imaginative act of narrating and reflecting on the “action” of a painting or sculpture, the poet may amplify and expand its meaning. register to see your art (everyone has the same pic/photo/painting)
• Abecedarian - The abecedarian is an ancient poetic form guided by alphabetical order. Generally each line or stanza begins with the first letter of the alphabet and is followed by the successive letter, until the final letter is reached.
• Rant
• On the spot prompt - definition- but we're not telling you that till the day of (one of 8 provided choices to be defined or redefined) Definitions can be as simple as the entries of the Devil’s Dictionary ala Ambrose Bierce or something more conceptual and creative. Prompts are always open to the interpretation of the poet.

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Registration closes August 16th 2016