Ποιειν Και Πραττειν - create and do

Poetry Reading at Creative Writing Centre in Antwerp

and Discussion

at 20.00

 Creatief Schrijven, the Flemish organization for non-professional writers in Flanders which organizes also writing workshops, has an advanced Writing Academy and organizes different other events and publishes books related to writing (not only poetry).
 www.creatiefschrijven.be
An Leenders is director of the organization.

Creatief Schrijven is also one of the main partners in the Belgian and European Championship Poetry Slam

 

Moderation: Philip Meersman

 

 

Introduction to World Poetry Movement: Bas Kwakman

If being professional means being present even if a small audience, then the explanation Bas Kwakman gave about the origin of World Poetry Movement fulfilled that demand. He referred to the incredible experience everyone made at the poetry festival in Medellin, Colombia. While there, directors and organisers of poetry festivals around the world decided to create a unique platform and called it World Poetry Movement.

 

Poems read by

 

Michael Vandebrill

 

 

Bart Van Peer - as a blind person he read his poem about coming home

 

Frans Vlinderman

 

 

Eli - mother of open mike. She started slam poetry just one year ago when Antwerp was Youth Capital and she took lessons at a work shop given by a slam poetry expert from the United States. She organizes the open mike all by herself. It reflects a growing interest in such a form of expression.

 

Fernando Rendon

His poems in English translation were read by Bas Kwakman

 

Hatto Fischer - read poem 'Caves of Truth' as part of his collection 'City Poems'

 

 

Subsequent discussion started out from the question why so few people came to this reading. One reply was that it was but an informal meeting and therefore not officially announced. This became then a description and reflection of the role of poetry in today's society. 
Eli or the mother of poetry as she calls herself, referred to her experiences since she started the open mike one year ago. She got interested in doing just that after having attended a slam poetry workshop during the year when Antwerp was Youth Capital. She is constantly on the look out for new talents and referred to the fact that everyone has a little scribbled note in his or her pocket which has the quality of a poem. She went on to say 'poetry is the most democratic practice there exists'. Always encouraging people to express themselves while being receptive to what others have to say brings out this diversity of people and unique expressions.
Philip Meersman ascertained that the same experiences he has been making with slam poetry competitions. Naturally there is nothing to be compared to the number of people who show up for the Medellin Poetry Festival.
Bas Kwakman explains what this open theatre in a carved out mountain side means for someone like himself when speaking for the first time in front of such a vast audience. Naturally there are those who are not shy to use certain tricks to get right away the attention. Thus one guy just said 'Che Guevera' and everyone applauded. People sing, converse, and talk while 70 poets sit on stage. The entire festival lasts seven hours. It is an amazing atmosphere. Bas Kwakman went to explain that for him the World Poetry Movement is something over and beyond such festivals as the one he directs in Rotterdam. As a platform the exchange of information it can become important world wide since people in China need to know that there is Poetry International in Rotterdam and Lyric Online / Literaturwerkstatt in Berlin, for on both websites you find poets, poetry in translation and a lot of information about poetry.

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