Seven Magic Words

Brian Hawkins, aka Voice Porter, is a spoken word poet, activist, and entrepreneur in Birmingham, Alabama. He wrote and narrates this short video produced by The Stewart Perry Company. Listen to his words about our city and see some of the good things happening here.


Seven Magic Words from The Stewart/Perry Company on Vimeo.

From the Vemeo site:

Seven Magic Words is a short film that Back Down South created for us over the last year. We asked them to capture the ever expanding arts community in our city, and hope you agree they have done just this. We have many things to be thankful for, from museums to live music, the Birmingham Museum of Art, the Alabama Symphony Orchestra and so many in between. This piece highlights a few of those art forms, and the people who are making a difference.

- M. Stewart / Stewart Perry Construction

-

The Art of Prayer

My friend, David Brazzeal, has a new blog, Pray like a Gourmet. It is definitely not your run-of-the-mill devotional blog, but he does have some energizing things to say about how we can pray. David is an American living in Paris and has a keen interest in the creative and fine arts. He brings this interest to bear in his writings. His stated goal is "encouraging those who are creative toward deeper spirituality and those who are spiritual toward heightened creativity."

So if you have an interest in spirituality or the creative arts, take a look at David's blog at http://praylikeagourmet.com/.

David also has some interesting activity on his other blogs:

• Cache-Cache Expérience
• Creative Spirituality
• Guerrilla Labyrinths

*

Any Tree That Falls: why creative people must create

Any Tree That Falls

There’s that old Zen riddle that we’ve all heard

“If a tree falls in the forest,

                and no one is there to hear,

            Does it make a sound?”

            I only lately came to some understanding.

            There is a writer’s workshop

            (it happens somewhere on any given weekend)

            Led by some accomplished poets and novelists.

            All in attendance are writers

            Most have never been published

            Most are unknown

            Except to a small circle of friends.

            Any published writer

            Evokes both admiration and envy

            From the many poets and writers

            Who create without recognition.

            In every city

            In every town

            People gather to make music.

            They sing

            They play their instruments

            In living rooms

            In church basements

            In garages.

            By the way,

            The answer to that riddle is “Yes!”

            The answer is always yes.

            Wherever there is life,

            The answer is yes.

            Any expression of art

            Says yes.

            Your contribution is important

            Your voice is heard.

            Your words are significant.

            For every poet, we say yes.

            For every singer, we say yes.

            For every dancer, every artist,

               every musician, we say yes.

            Even if there is no book,

               no recording contract,

               no public recognition,

            We say yes.

For every tree in the forest,

            Every movement,

            Every rustle,

            As long as there is life,

            We say yes.

            Whether you sing in the shower

            Or at the New York Met,

            The answer is yes.

            Whether you write for The New York Times

            For Harper and Row

            For your family

            Or just for yourself,

            The answer is yes.

            Whether you dance for the Bolshoi

            Or to the radio in your living room,

            Your movement

            Your celebration

            Your voice

            Your words make a difference

            And the answer is always yes.

            Charles Kinnaird

*