Comments on: Does my voice really sound like that?

Does my voice really sound like that?

Rustic Etruscan — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 15:59:25 -0800

For this year's National Poetry Month, the Poetry Foundation has set up a SoundCloud group called "Record-a-Poem." They're inviting people to record themselves reading their favorite poems. (via)

Some of the Poetry Foundation's favorites: "Susie Asado" by Gertrude Stein, read by Fred & August Sasaki. "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time" by Robert Herricik, read by Garrison Keillor. "The Crocodile" by Lewis Carroll, read by 1st grade students from St. Giles School in Oak Park, Illinois. "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird" by Wallace Stevens, read by Charles Morello. "'Hope' is the Thing with Feathers" by Emily Dickinson, read by Emma Rahme. The Poetry Foundation's instructions for recording your own: "1. Join SoundCloud and the Record-a-Poem Group. 2. Hit the round Rec (record button). 3. Check the box to approve that Flash can access your microphone. 4. Hit round Rec button again. 5. Record. 6. Hit the square Stop button. 7. Upload the sound. 8. Name the recording following this format: 'POEM TITLE' by 'POET' read by 'YOU'; add author tags and the word 'poem' and 'poetry.' 9. Keep in mind that we have to approve the tracks before they're added to the group, so it may take a day before you see it."

By: Charlemagne In Sweatpants

Charlemagne In Sweatpants — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 16:02:01 -0800

Can we record ourselves performing our own performance poetry? If not I'll stick a recording of Howl up there.

By: jonmc

jonmc — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 16:04:46 -0800

*does vocal warmups* Gene gene made a machine Jo Jo made it go...

By: clavdivs

clavdivs — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 16:05:30 -0800

and now my reading from Audens' chorus of "The Flight into Egypt". "Come to our well-run desert Where anguish arrives by cable, And the deadly sins May be bought in tins With instructions on the label. Come to our jolly desert Where even the dolls go whoring; Where cigarette-ends Become intimate friends, And it's always three in the morning." or my imprint of Gene Gene the Dancing Machine.

By: liketitanic

liketitanic — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 16:10:20 -0800

I'm bummed because I added stuff according to the directions a week ago but it hasn't been added to the set.

By: Renoroc

Renoroc — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 16:14:11 -0800

so much depends upon a blue back ground glazed with white text beside the yellow hyperlinks

By: Navelgazer

Navelgazer — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 16:24:01 -0800

Yeah I might have added a "This is Just to Say" just, you know... because.

By: dhartung

dhartung — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 16:33:44 -0800

Still not making a dent in that $100 million.

By: neroli

neroli — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 17:04:00 -0800

Oh man, is there a way to hide this link from my future self? Because every time I drink too much when I'm alone, I have an potentially embarrassing tendency to declaim "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry."

By: DaDaDaDave

DaDaDaDave — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 17:32:46 -0800

Some of the Poetry Foundation's favorites: I can only assume the Poetry Foundation has not heard "Ubu Hubbub" by Christian Bök, as read by Christian Bök. Caution: LOUD. NO GAZEBOS GO BERSERK

By: markkraft

markkraft — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 17:43:57 -0800

Just shows where my mind is... a cursory glance read this as Record-a-Porn. Which -- let's face it -- would likely be more entertaining, except under certain circumstances. Though the concept of porn being read by Garrison Keillor does have a certain "Wrong. So wrong!" appeal. Lake Wobegon has never been so caliente!

By: invitapriore

invitapriore — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 18:51:26 -0800

I would do this. I'm torn between Larkin's "Cut Grass" and Crane's "To Brooklyn Bridge."

By: bendy

bendy — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 18:57:27 -0800

Sadly the only poem that I can consistently recall is one that my 7th grade English teacher had taped to the front of her desk. It's printed in 4-color "high" res over a photo of a horse running through a field of wild flowers: September is a stallion, With a flowing tawny mane, Who has never known a bridle nor a rider nor a rein..." I'm beginning to realize why the new school year was always so exciting. [NOT STALLIONIST!]

By: y2karl

y2karl — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 18:59:49 -0800

Can we record ourselves performing our own performance poetry ? Not in a just universe.

By: Joe in Australia

Joe in Australia — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 19:05:02 -0800

Nothing by McGonagle. Sassenachs.

By: Eyebrows McGee

Eyebrows McGee — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 19:09:10 -0800

Oh, man, I may have to go do "Crossing" by Philip Booth. I have to read (at this point recite) it to my train-obsessed preschoolers at least twice a day. Having read it so many times, I feel like I am ONE with this poem at this point.

... eighty-eight, red-ball freight, Rio Grande, Nickel Plate, Hiawatha, Lackawanna, rolling fast and loose, ninety-seven, coal car, boxcar, CABOOSE!

By: item

item — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 19:28:09 -0800

This'd make John Girono awful proud.

By: whir

whir — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 19:53:56 -0800

Pretty credible renditions of two of my favorite short Wallace Stevens poems: "A Postcard from the Volcano" and "Re-Statement of Romance." The reader gets a word or two wrong, but I always do too when I read them aloud.

By: h00py

h00py — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 04:32:14 -0800

I recorded my favourite poem, Not Dying by Mark Strand (I read it here and have loved it ever since), on Soundcloud a little while ago because it makes me think of my Dad but it's too much to read to him. I've added all the tags and such. I hope it makes it on there, it's a good one.

By: h00py

h00py — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 04:41:19 -0800

Here's the link, if anyone's interested.

By: koucha

koucha — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 06:26:27 -0800

I'd read a Dorothy Parker poem, but I'm scared I'll start trying to mimic Jennifer Jason Leigh in Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle.

By: Decani

Decani — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 07:25:18 -0800

Hmm. I appear to be too stupid to figure out how to record my own. I joined the group, clicked on the link in the confirmation email and now I can't for the life of me find a way to follow the instructions for recording. Oh well.