John Lacarbiere
Short bio:
I was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. August 23, 1984 was the day. I graduated valedictorian from John McDonough Sr. High School class of 2002. Writing has always been a passion for me. I think I wrote my first poem when I was like 8 or 9. I wish I could remember what it was. I really got into it when I started high school. I used to write poems almost every day. I remember I wrote this one poem about Jordan’s, tennis shoes that I love to wear, and performed it in front of the class. The response I received from it made me want to not only write but read my poems to people. I tend to write poems about everyday life. Not my life in particular but the average everyday life. Just recently I had a hard time dealing with the death of my father, who was one of the many victims of Hurricane Katrina. Although I didn’t really show it, it hurt me a lot. I evacuated to Houston and it was there I wrote a lot of my personal poems. I think I was mildly depressed. As far as my style of writing goes, I don’t have just one set style. Some are poetic while others just be…you’ll see. I use profanity in some but nothing disrespectful. I write whatever comes to my head. I could be at work, school, driving and an idea pops up. I truly love what I do and feel I should share it with the world. I Currently host Open Mic at Borders Bookstore in Metairie. come check me out...visit my myspace @ http://www.myspace.com/msbjohn or my blog http://johnlpoetry.blogspot.com.
My submission:
Imagine
Imagine yourself reciting a poem to an audience of none
It's just you and the padded walls in your room
And your poem goes something like…
I'm not crazy
It's just sometimes when I'm alone
People speak to me
I didn't mean to choke my neighbor
I was only doing what they told me to do…
Ok if you imagined that you might be crazy too
But imagine yourself as a lady
(Fellas)
With a heart broken by the only man she ever loved and can't leave
Her poem goes something like…
I want to leave him
But if I do
Who will love me?
I feel so much pain inside
I lost myself in him
Or maybe gave him to much of me
That now I depend on him to not feel lonely
So I stay here not because of love but because of fear
Fear that no one else would love me again
Let him have his friends
And keep my pain within…
Now since we are on the subject of women
Imagine yourself as a 16 year old little girl
With a body fully developed
And a step dad that notices it
She reads…
He says that the more he does it
I'll start to like it
That doesn't stop me from crying
My momma knows what step daddy is doing to me
But she says we need a roof over our head
But it hurts
It hurts
Sometimes it bleeds
I'm only sixteen
Step daddy stop touching me!
Sad I know
Now imagine yourself poor
Reciting a poem to the other homeless people in the shelter
You tell them…
We did not choose to be this way
At least I didn't
I was forced to live this life
Given no opportunity
All I know is these streets
And before I beg another person for something to eat
I make this sign
And it reads
Imagine yourself as me
Kicked out at 13
Been homeless ever since
Feed me…
Now imagine yourself as President Bush
Reciting a poem about justice and equality…
You see America...
I uhh…
Uhh…
Uhh…
Ok he's a lil too dumb to write poetry
Last but not least
Imagine yourself in love
And the person you're with is the only thing you think of
Your poem reads…
My love for you is deeper than the Atlantic
You are the reason I'm up here standing
Reciting this poem
Expressing how much I love you
I love your mind
I love the way you smell
I love your taste
I love your face
I even love your mistakes
I love that you love me
I love you just the way you are '
I love that you don't change
I love the way we love each other
I love not knowing where this love will take us
I love you
I love you
I love you…
