Random follow #285 - @PoetryNightNZ

It takes a special something, a special someone with a very special idea to transform social media in a way that literally turns it upside down.  Where twitter can be very introspective and self serving there are a few accounts that help make it more than just about you/me/I.

@PoetryNightNZ is a very lovely, very lively and very exciting project that is all about community.  Yes there is a co-ordinator who pulls it together but the real value of it all is in the way that everyone pulls together and provides the content that makes it all so entirely rich.

Community is what makes social media.  Its about people coming together and communicating about about subjects and topics of great interest.  Poetry in this case is the currency of communication.  Poetry not just written but recited and read and played to you via Soundcloud and other means.

@PoetryNightNZ is an infrequent occurrence that comes around from time to time.  There is no set schedule and the tweets happen depending upon which way the wind is blowing.  But all of that just adds to the mystery of the art.  It also means that when you look at their account you can quickly locate tweets of poems from poetry nights gone by.

Here are a few samples for you to have a listen to - 

"Just a couple more for you. Got @kebabette back in here to read a poem by her sister Sarah Robertson, in London. https://audioboo.fm/boos/1767679-poem …" and

"Next up @kebabette reads Rick’s teen anguish poem (from Bachelor Boys, the Young Ones book, 1984 - remember?) https://audioboo.fm/boos/1768019-rick-s-teen-anguish-poem …" or 

"63% of all relationships start at places of work or education.’ It's @fogonwater reading MY ADDRESS by James Brown https://audioboo.fm/boos/1782853-my-address …"

I for one totally love this account.  Engaging with the world and social media on an entirely different level is both exciting and exhilarating.  In fact the next time its on - I might even try and contribute myself.  Who knows - lets just wait and see.

So @PoetryNightNZ is a twitter account for those of you who are looking for a little bit more in your tweets.  A little bit more depth, a little bit more life, a little bit more of that beautiful taste you have in your mouth as you savour something so delicious that everything inside you screams out MORE! MORE! MORE! 

Just in case you didn't know it this account is curated by the very talented @ashleigh_young.

"Poetry is the opening and closing of a door, leaving those who look through to guess about what is seen during the moment.  Carl Sandburg"