Earlier this week, my sister, husband, and I attended the Austin Poetry Slam.  My only other experience with poetry slams was in high school and it lacked emotion, sincerity, and rhythm, so I was a little hesitant to attend this one.  Let me tell you: it was the complete opposite and I look forward to going again!  The poets were unapologetically raw, fiercely honest, and laid out all of their inner vulnerability for a whole audience of strangers to judge them.  I felt as if every poet bared a piece of their soul that night, allowing the audience to witness their life struggles.  All of the emotion in the room made me want to hug each and every one of them.

A few of the topics covered were: the struggles of growing up without a father active in one’s life; having to live with a certain disease that society is quite close-minded about; the way politicians handle our money; the struggles of wanting to feel sexy and what society assumes about attractive ladies; being a man vs. being a boy when in the realm of women; the struggles of being a six-year-old red-head; how to love oneself; the reason the devil really tempted Eve with the apple in the garden of Eden.  The list goes on and on, each offering a very intimate perspective into the poet’s life.  I admire that about Poetry: the raw honesty.

There was one very powerful poet that night, who received a PERFECT score.  It wasn’t perfect in the sense that the three middle votes (as they drop the highest and lowest judges’ vote to come up with each score) were all 10s.  All five judges in the room gave this poet a 10.  The entire room was rooting and applauding and cheering at the end of this slam.  He was actually the “sacrificial” poet, which means that he wasn’t actually in the competition, but he slams to make sure the judges realize how to judge the following poets, in regards to how the audience reacts to each score.  I knew what was coming as soon as the iPhones came out and my heart sunk.  My heart sunk because I, lover of love and insister of photos for all occasions, did not have my camera with me that night and missed the opportunity to snap photos of this Poet, this man revealing his love of a woman in the audience, propose to his now fiance.  It was a very sweet insight into how much he loves his future wife and how they have loved each other leading up to this point in their lives.

Besides reiterating to me that my camera should never leave my side, Austin Poetry Slam also reinforced how blessed I am with the life GOD has given me.  Since every blog post is better with a photo, here is a recent shot of me with one of my biggest blessings, better known as: My Husband.

Hope everyone has an awesome weekend,

Mylah Renae

www.Eureka-Photography.com