Issue 3:THREAD Open Mic Night ~ Write Up

Three weeks ago the third issue of Riverstone was launched and celebrated with an open mic poetry night at Greenhouse Studios. That is to say, 50 or so people gathered and listened as stories were told and unravelled, performances offered, poems given voice, tears were let loose, food was eaten, wine was poured… all the good things basically. I’m a little late to write about this, though it’s been on my mind for a minute now to get down some thoughts about it.

Riverstone seems to attract an open community of people who are committed to silliness, who lend their ears and their affections, their love and their time and their words (and lots of other things too). Each time we gather I have had the pleasure of bearing witness to writers who have never spoken their words aloud before. I must say, I love a practised poet, but there is something so so special about being a part of a community that feels safe enough to share the unspoken words, the scary words, the words that are begging to have audience but otherwise might have stayed bottled up if not for the right space to let them run free. Riverstone is learning the power and prowess of emergence, of writers who have not had traditional pathways or opportunities to give their words voice. How special! And really, the celebration of emerging writers is one of a few key foundations Riverstone finds itself building upon.

This issue of Riverstone was connected by a theme of THREAD. It became a really juicy, fruitful theme; winding itself throughout the issue and the night through metaphor and point of connection. So many of the works published in this issue sat parallel to each other, speaking to different aspects of the idea of thread such as grief, family, space, and memory. And then building upon that, many of the pieces performed on the night added to these silos of feeling. This sharing of theme felt really special, and I found myself getting pretty emotional on the night being able to witness the meaning making and the making real of our shared place in the world. The way pieces spoke to each other, this convergence of deep feeling and being able to be in conversation with one another through the act of sharing and listening felt so (beautifully) overwhelming. And really all of that is to say that nothing happens in a vacuum, we are all connected, and to feel that through poetry and art is so important.

This feeling of deep connection comes at a time of deep anger. It would be remiss not to mention the context I’m writing this from, on unceded Gadigal land, as voters go to the polls tomorrow to decide upon First Nations constitutional recognition, as decades long land theft, violence, and apartheid perpetuates against Palestinian people. I stand in solidarity with First Nations and Indigenous people, acknowledging my place in this settler/colonial system. This weekend is a good time to show your support for First Nations Australians and Palestine.

Stay safe, keep writing and reading and listening, til the next one xx

Cheers,

Lucy