Word Space - Poetry open mic by Joshua Hallam

Poetry is a team game.

We spend so much time sat alone trying to find our muse. Trying to put that blemishless idea down on blemishless paper, or being frustrated that we can’t just stop scrolling and independently pull out a fully polished poem from deep within our psyche. The truth is, for most of us, art is more rewarding, more alive and easier when social. Playing with words was collectively developed for real social functions - telling stories for a purpose; it is empathising, it is wearing other people’s glasses for a minute, it is the practice of connection - warts, mistakes, scrappy first drafts and all.

‍

Word Space is about listening as much as writing or performing.

About community and being wholly generous with our much fought for attention. It is about the necessity of space to hear, think, and digest someone’s words and give encouragement, appreciation and artistic support. Miles Davis said something like ‘jazz is the gap between notes’. Word Space might be the breath after a full stop – followed by telling someone you loved their third line.

‍