Performance Poetry at the Buddha Bar in Toronto.

Performance Poetry at the Buddha Bar in Toronto.

Street-cars take you there. Located at Queen's street: The Buddha Bar of Toronto. When I first visited, it was a fluke. I had a chance invitation. I met some creative writing majors from York University, and they mentioned the 'poetry nights' at the Buddha Bar. I was interested, as I always am when I hear the words 'poetry & performance.'

I arrived late as usual, but I got a discount on the ticket for knowing Emily. Quite randomly, really, as I hadn't realized there was an inner 'writers at the bar' exception rule of any sort, on tickets, on drinks. The first thing I noticed about the bar though, was not the 'freedom for the poet' -- that came later. I noticed how dark it was, almost green. I also wondered why it was called "Buddha Bar," -- a new age Buddha?

The nights start out with various performances -- there were fashion shows I saw, slam poetry events, and jewelry displays. Later into the night, people relax, and I suppose that is the real time for some 'performance poetry.'The first night I visited, it was just the four of us -- creative writers and performers. It was exhilarating to share the stage, that had just belonged to cat-walks a few moments ago, and experience it transformed for the poet.

They had dimmed the lighting, so it was still very much like a bar, and the spot-light fell on the poet, just like on any other fashion/media-star. It was a fascinating transition. We all lived it, participated in creating it.
I read a poem titled "Severity," and the effective stops, worked well in Toronto. It was a busy street, of a very busy city. The moment was, a power I have rarely ever known before. It was my stage, my act -- I was doing what I did best. It wasn't a seminar or a presentation, it was reading poetry.

Prof. Aghssa, a Theater teacher at Eastern Michigan University, calls the 'stage' transformative, evocative -- the prize of many past lives. I couldn't agree more. For those few moments, you are transformed. Your life, revolves in sound, the presence of sheer-sound, your body only semi-present -- it is your voice, and your voice alone that communicates. The intelligence of the word, superseding the music played just a little while before.

I realize that it is not as machine-powerful, as the guitarist, playing his tunes, however -- here is the challenge for the Performance Poet, can s/he startle the audience with something utterly human -- can s/he defy the machine? A Performance Poet Vs A Musician, is rather like Theatre Vs Cinema -- the question is, can the power of the human energy defeat the machine at its best?