Performed by Val Cole
Get to know the poet:
1) What is the theme of your poem?
Human Teddy Bear comes from a place of comfort and emotional security. At it’s heart it addresses how a person can easily become a safe place whether it feels like the world is crashing down or just an all around vibe.
2) What motivated you to write this poem?
To be honest. It came from a conversation I had with a good friend. It’s been years since we’ve seen each other and we were on the topic of hugs. It was an amazing conversation and I ended up writing about one of the memories we shared.
3) How long have you been writing poetry?
Mmmm.. I am going to say well over a decade now. It’s been a very long time now. Since I was a child. I’ve always loved poetry though, but I still feel like I have a long way to go before I consider a lot of my work poetry, well in the traditional since.
4) If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?
The last time we talked I know I said James Baldwin or Saul Williams. I was very adamant about that. But I’d also without a shadow of a doubt Langston Hughes and Nikki Giovanni. I would love to talk to them about anything.
5) What influenced you to submit to have your poetry performed by a professional actor?
I wanted to hear the emotion from someone else’s voice recite the words. Voices are amazing and I love a good story. It always amazes me how you can hear something, then someone else can read it and it sounds different. I’ve also had some of my other work read by a professional actor and it definitely took it to another level. Kudos to Ms. Val Cole.
6) Do you write other works? scripts? Short Stories? Etc..?
Yes. I write short stories outside of poetry. Here lately I’ve been experimenting a lot with monologues and trying to bring an almost cinematic quality to my writing. It’s not perfect. But I love experimenting.
7) What is your passion in life?
Honestly. I’ve thought about this question since the last time you asked me and I am going to go with connection. No matter if it’s writing or if I am doing something else. It’s like a childlike quality comes out. I also noticed that I’ve written a lot about connection over the last few years. To some extent everyone wants to feel seen, and through that it can drive us to do some pretty amazing things. Long as it’s genuine and authentic. I feel like a good part of my work, even the not so pretty stuff circles back to connection.
POEM:
You’re the kind of love
that’s always there,
the kind of comfort that never asks questions.
If you have them, I never know.
Whether you’re in my arms,
in my hands,
whether you’re in the corner or
on top of the cover.
I reach for you,
trusting my first mind
more often than the second.
You’re always there,
the last place that I left you,
but the first place I think to look.
Your button-like eyes
searching me.
I don’t know what quite to call you.
You’re not loud,
but you’re also not quiet.
I sometimes wonder if you go to sleep,
choosing to stay up with me all times of the night
regardless if it’s the same story
you’ve heard a million times,
or if some of the things I say
require more patience.
You never take a deep breath.
Those button-like eyes stare at me
as lovingly as they did the day
you were introduced to my life.
You’ve changed my perspective
on a lot of things
how deeply I can hold on to things,
sometimes even fold.
And you do it all by being yourself.
By being real.
You don’t pretend to save me.
You don’t tell me things
just to shut me up.
In a world where we’re taught
to put away childish things,
I am glad that I didn’t listen.
I am glad that you never left.
Festival Reviews 