The Loft Blog

This week’s Wednesday Night Poetry Reading will be a tribute to local poet, song stylist and musician Othello “T” Leonard, who passed away March 21, 2010. The program begins at 8pm at The Poet’s Loft 514-B Central Avenue and all are invited.

Known by his friends and fans as “T”, Leonard served jointly with Jeni Emerson as Keeper Of The Loft from 2001 through 2003. Founder and first Keeper of The Loft, Bud Kenny, turned management of the coffee house/performance venue over to them when he and his wife embarked on their walking tour of America.

“T was a natural for the position.” Kenny said. “He started performing at the Loft when it first opened, and often told me he felt more at home there than any place else.”

Dr. Paul Tucker, who owns the building that houses The Poet’s Loft, said of Leonard, “Everybody loved T. He will be sorrowfully missed. ”

Of T’s poetry, long time friend and former business associate Jeni Emerson said, “His poems reflect his attitude toward life. T felt we should react with each other in a spirit of love and hope.”

As a musician, T played numerous instruments, but was most noted for his work on conga drums and his singing. Besides The Poet’s Loft, he performed at numerous Hot Springs venues including Maxine’s, the former Three Monkeys and Porter House Club. T played with some of the Spa City’s most noted musicians including Mark Ayers, Brian Sink, Toni Nardi, Jim Haugner, Brian Basco and Mike Fraz.

According to key board artist Mike Fraz, “It was always a pleasure and a honor to share the stage with T”.

Wednesday Night’s “Tribute to T” will begin with a twenty minute presentation of T’s poetry read by a few of his friends, including Dr. Tucker, Bud Kenny, Mike Fraz, Jeni Emerson, Sam Breshears, current Loft Keeper Pam Rawls and others. Following that presentation will be the regular open mic sessions for all poets.

The evening will be a fund raiser to help pay for T’s final expenses. Admission is a $5 donation with all proceeds going to that cause. For more information call The Poet’s Loft at 625-7740.

by Bud Kenny

Just to clear a few things up and hopefully put them to bed. I have been asked to answer a few questions by a man whom i have the utmost respect for, primarily because the feeling is mutual. See its as simple as that. This got me to thinking. Is this type of behavior accepted in the world of poetry in other places?. Is this the norm?. Where do we draw the lines?. Help me understand this guys.

Here goes

The Poet’s Loft to my knowledge has never PROMISED or GUARANTEED anyone a certain payment for Wednesday night features. I have stated that “on a good night for a good performance i have witnessed some poets receiving anywhere from 30 tho 75 dollars in the hat pass and in some cases more”. now if you interpret that to mean i guarantee you 75 payment and your pissed because you received 10 in the hat then i do not know what to tell you.

The Poet’s loft has never denied access to this venue or support to any poetry project conducted by any poet in the state of Arkansas, now wait for it…if you approached me about a qualifying slam to send a team to nationals and got the response “of course as long as its open to everyone and fairly judged” and your response was “oh no we already have our team we just need to satisfy PSI”. and my response was” Uh NO” and now several years later your still hold a resentment then i just do not know what to say to you.

If you have ever misled PSI, your friends and fellow poets about a chance to compete at nationals and then underhandedly tried to send a team under false pretenses flying the Poet’s Loft flag and were caught by myself and Steve Marsh and denied, and now several years later you are still holding a resentment then i do not know what to say to you.

If you have ever tried to go to nationals under false pretenses representing the loft when you are not associated with the loft and tried to mislead our nonprofit to fund you and were denied and now several years later you still hold a resentment then i do not know what to say to you.

If you have ever maliciously planned and executed a vulgar scheme to shake hands with the Loft keeper with the same hand you just masturbated with unwashed and thought it was funny enough to brag about it openly and your ass was thrown out and now several years later you still hold a resentment then i do not know what to say to you.

If you have ever asked me to move the date of the ARKANSAS GRAND SLAM mid year so it would not interfere with your monthly slam and i refused. if you view that as disrespect and if you happened to take that as a personal insult and you still hold a resentment several years later. then i do not know what to say to you.

If you happen to view an open door policy and national embracement and inclusion as an invasion of outsiders and view other artist whom embrace that as step and fetch nuggas, merch poets, golden boys getting golden paychecks etc then… i just dont know what to say to you.

If you have ever been immature and disrespectful enough to verbally cuss a 77 year old woman over upholding health dept regulations and not allowing to put your carry out in the icebox….well …or you’ve verbally attacked the most beloved loft elder the most respected most generous benefactor and loft provider ever, on the sidewalk in front of witnesses because you were called on your behavior and were thrown out, i mean really do i have to say anything else.

Now with all that said, viewed as Dictatorship, Gestapo, Pacifism, Communism or whatever. let me now say this.
That type of behavior is NOT simply living life as a poet. It is unacceptable and unforgivable. The Poets Loft is the crown jewel of slam poetry venues, it is an international icon, there are certain expectations and standards that will be amplified with in theses walls and across the nation for anyone who is or has ever inspired to be an artist. if you cannot understand that, support it ,embrace it.. i do not know what else to say to you.

Now there were no names mentioned here but if you know exactly who is responsible for what, then you inevitably know every word is undeniably true. chew on that for a little while.

Othello “T” Leonard, 53, of Hot Springs, AR, formerly of Pittsburgh, PA, went to walk with the Lord on Sunday, March 21, 2010 at Baptist Health Medical Center – Arkadelphia.

He was born December 23, 1956 to Lorenzo & Mercedes Leonard of Pittsburgh, PA.T was in the United States Marine Corps and worked at Chem Fab Corp. of Hot Springs, Arkansas.

T is survived by brothers: Ozereal, Vonceral, Isici, and Inenell; daughters Tiya & Carla Leonard of Pittsburgh, PA and five grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents and three brothers.

T had many loves. He was a song stylist, musician, and a poet. His moments were spent entertaining many friends through words at The Poet’s Loft and through song at The Porterhouse Club.

His journey though life will be missed by his family and many friends: Jeni Emerson, Joe & Penny Gargano, Suki Dancer, Amber Flesher, Kim Ocker, and Tracey Deeds.

Memorial Service will be held at The Porterhouse Club, 707 Central Ave. Hot Springs, AR, Wednesday, March 24th at 7pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hot Springs Funeral Home.

We would like to encourage anyone who knew “T” to leave messages for his family and friends in remembrance or upload images of him here on The Loft Blog or our Facebook page.

In deferance to the plans of the family a “Celebration of Life” at The Poet’s Loft for “T” will be announced shortly.

As of right now THE POET’S LOFT is implementing a new policy for poetry competitions. A new enforced NO REPEAT rule for the 2010 year of monthly slams. Meaning, you must have fresh stuff every month to compete. The only exception will be qualifiers and The Arkansas Grand Slam where the no repeat rule in any round is enforced, however you can use poetry you have used previously in monthly slams. Only the strong will survive,if you are worth your weight in words you will have no problem claiming champion status.

MARCH 6Th
8PM SHARP
HOSTED BY MIKE GUINN
SPONSERED BY SAM B. AND THE POET’S LOFT.
3 rounds
Accumalitive scoreing
National rules apply
This is an open slam. Everyone is invited, to my knowledge anyone in the united states can compete for a slot, however they must be willing to contract their commitment and attend team events on dates and times suggested. The Poet’s Loft in hot spring National Park Ark is the location of most events and practices, so…..no we will not hold practices anywhere else. complete rules and schedule to follow.

CRY ME A RIVER

CRY ME A RIVER

PLEASE

BREAK OPEN THE DRY EARTH

OF STILL CREATIVITY

AND LET THE LIQUID OF YOUR THOUGHTS

EMERGE AS WORDS

A MIGHTY FORCE WITH UNDERTOW

AND UNTAMED CURRENT

LET THEM TWIST

AND TURN

AND ROLL

AND FLOW

AND CHURN

BREAK WAVES AND FORM RAPIDS

DON’T HOLD BACK

NO DAMS NECESSARY

I CAN SWIM

P. R. RAWLS

P.J. Harden representing Hot Springs took first place.  Leonardo representing Hot Springs took second place and T.J. menzel form Little Rock took the wonder bread and spam. Fabulous fun.  hosted by Big Momma who’s pants were on the ground “literally” after sinceAR snatched them on stage! he will pay for that. Talley ed by Tina yes the short mean black woman who messed up time and scores during the ARGS and made everybody mad LOL. Join us the first Sat in March for another dammed slam!!! hosted by the official Spa City Slam Master “Mike Guinn”.

THE STAIR WELLS WERE DIM AND THE STEPS CREAKED LIKE ALWAYS.

37 STRAIGHT UP

INSIDE THE MOOD WAS ALIVE AND VIBRANT.

WALL TO WALL TALENT.

A FAMILY REUNION.

ELDERS GETTING TO KNOW THE YOU GUNS. YOU GUNS MESMERIZED BY THE ELDERS HISTORY.

BUD KENNY FOUNDER OF THE WEDNESDAY NIGHT OPEN MIC AND OF THE LOFT, TOP HAT AND TAILS, COLORFUL TIE, NICE VEST AND CONVERSE SNEAKERS TOOK THE STAGE TO EMCEE.

POETS WERE HONORED

SOME REMEMBERED.

A MOMENT OF NOISE FOR GABRIEL.

A VIVA LA FRANCE FOR JEANINE.

THE POEM “DIRTY OLD BASTARD” FOR A FALLEN OLDER CONRAD, NO “NAMES MENTIONED”.

WE LAUGHED, WE CRIED, WE CHEERED.

WE APPLAUDED THE PEOPLE AND THE LOFT.

KEITH FRANKLIN WAS APPOINTED THE POET’S LOFT POET LAUREATE FOR HIS CONSTANT COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND MANY VOLUMES OF POETRY WRITTEN IN A DARK CORNER (PROBABLY WITH A STOLEN PENCIL).

SAM BREARSHEARS WAS APPOINTED THE POET’S LOFT SLAM POET LAUREATE FOR HIS UNWAVERING SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF OTHER POETS. FOR TEACHING US TO NEVER GIVE UP AND FOR HIMSELF BEING THE TRUE MEANING OF THE POINTS ARE NOT THE PONT THE POINT IS POETRY.

DR PAUL TUCKER RECEIVED THE NO-BELL PEACE PRIZE FOR HIS TRUE BELIEF IN A HAND SHAKE AND A PROMISE. AND THE FACT NOBODY HAS THE NERVE TO RING THE BELL ON HIM WHEN HE BABBLES ON AND ON.

BUD KENNY WAS HONORED WITH THE PULL-IT-SURPRISE FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE WORLD OF POETRY WHILE TRAVELING CROSS COUNTRY A-FOOT WITH A MULE.

A BEAUTIFUL NIGHT

A BEAUTIFUL VENUE

BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE

AN ICON AND AN INSTITUTION ALONG WITH HISTORIC TRADITION

CELEBRATED