'Poetry and Prose for Peace' Opens the Mic at the New Deal

The  sponsored an open mic poetry night on Tuesday, called "Poetry & Prose for Peace." It celebrated the City of Greenbelt's declaration of June as Peace Month.

Amethyst Dwyer, hosted the event and started it off reading "I Have A Dream," by Rob Brezny. This dream included 9 hours of sleep, magic underwear and Oprah buying up Pizza Huts and converting them into menstrual huts.

Amidst the humor in the dream, folk were also called on to do some pretty serious stuff, like "We will search for the divine spark even in the people we most despise."

Eight people signed up to read poetry and prose of their own or works from selected authors, the readings ranged from profound to humorous. There was even music from Lenore Algaze, who sang "Let there be Peace on Earth," acapello in simple, touching style.

The mere title of Rocky Jones' first memoir piece evoked audience laughter, "I Hate Shopping for Pants." Renata Atkinson immediately shot back from the audience, "Me too!" Jones' poem was inspired by a search for WWII camouflage pants, but ended up with a beautiful woman thanking the peace lover for serving his country. Jones wanted to take advantage of the situation but feared the two would never get along.

Another Jones' piece that evoked an audience chuckle, went like this:

The only excuse they would accept

for his feminine hairdo

was that he aimed to confuse

the sky demons-

who were kidnappers of boys

never girls.

Though many didn't share original works, there were original readings, often with a peace theme, like Barbara's reading of Edna St. Vincent Mallay's "Conscientious Objector."

Jim Link, read from Carl Sandburg as well as from Keith Douglas's "Vergissmeinnicht," which translates - forget me not.

Karen Temple True shared poems from Edgar Guest, a favorite poet of her father's. Her selections were "Peace," "Peaceful Warriors" and "Myself," which she said was about finding peace within.

The New Deal will host another Peace Month event on Monday, June 20, when Reel and Meal at the New Deal plans to show "Finding Our Voices: Stories of American Dissent," highlighting the work of eight activists who helped inspire the post-September 11 peace movement. The free documentary starts at 7 p.m. Movie goers can come early and purchase an optional vegan meal at 6:30 p.m.