Nuyorican Poetry; The Sydney Poetry Olympics (1995-1997); Poetry Slams; Yusef Komunyakaa

In Sydney, Australia

Nuyorican Poets Café

Types of events

THE NUYORICAN POETS CAFE, 

A CULTURAL ICON ON NEW YORK’S LOWER EAST SIDE SINCE 1973

Nuyorican Poetry, from poets.org

Emily XYZ with Myers Bartlett

"Cash" by Emily XYZ (with Myers Bartlett)

The Poetry Olympics at the Sydney Opera House, Australia.

 Panel of Judges, 1995: 

Yusef Komunyakaa, Jim Potts, Komninos Zervos

Cedric Talbot (Aboriginal didgeridoo player) and I once performed two of my poems (for voice and didgeridoo) "The Apocalyptic Blues" and "Jindyworobak 1997" at the Lyric Theatre, Sydney, for the Poetry Olympics. That was in 1997, when the judges (the two others being Chin Woon Ping and Jill Jones) were asked to perform, as well as the contestants.

For three consecutive years, 1995-1997, I felt honoured to be invited to be one of the judges/adjudicators of the Poetry Olympics grand slam. Komninos was the inspiration and creative driving force behind the Sydney Poetry Olympics.

In 1996 the judges also included members of the Nuyoricans, exciting and innovative performance poets from New York.

Last night I read "The Apocalyptic Blues" again (with imagined didgeridoo) again, at Julian Nangle's monthly poetry event at Books Beyond Words.  A great evening, which also featured some inspiring and original songs by guest musician Julian Harrow.

Thank you, Julian Nangle, Julian Harrow, Poly Howell and all the poets who read their work. A memorable evening!

And thank you Komninos!

See also: Four Takes on Australian Art