On the first Thursday of every month, Lyric Lounge gives students a platform from which to freely express themselves.
In the SkyLounge, room 300 of the Eastern Michigan University Student Center, the audience is welcome to join in and perform the art of the spoken word in a welcoming and judgment-free setting.
Co-sponsored by the EMU Poetry Society as well as Campus Life, the Lyric Lounge delivers expression at its best with inspiring stories and musings on the human condition.
“The Lyric Lounge offers a different open mic experience to EMU,” said Wardelia Wade. “It provides a place for campus expression that’s uncensored. EMU has plenty of different student organizations but Poetry Society is a truly unique experience.”
The room was filled to capacity forcing many students to stand or sit on surfaces not originally meant for seating.
Vice President of the Poetry Society Aijalon McLittle was pleased with the night’s turnout.
“Also this coming Thursday Oct. 14 we’ll be having our 10-year anniversary celebration of the Poetry Society,” McLittle said. He hopes to see an even greater turnout for the celebration.
“The Lyric Lounge was something (the Poetry Society) started last year,” said Wade. “It brings more publicity for the Poetry Society to our students and freshness to campus.”
Any refreshments in the in the back of the dimly lit room were quickly snatched up by the audience.
The atmosphere in the back was almost reminiscent of a smokey coffee shop where Beat poets would applaud the truth of experience in poetry, with the exception of the DJ on the side of the stage spinning music between performances.
In the spot-lit conference room, poetry manifested itself being read from Blackberry phones to memorized performances.
Audience members were left stunned by the performers’ sincerity. Going beyond mere applause some performances even had members of the audience stomping the floor in agreement.
Deonna Johnson explained what makes the Lyric Lounge so successful is all about the people. The open space allows them to present their poetry and inner thoughts.
“The audience likes to see people present and hear new poems,” said Johnson. “It’s one of the few activities which black people go to on campus since it’s hosted by the Poetry Society. It’s something where we all come together. Even when it’s hosted in a lounge at the First Year Center a lot of people come.”
One of the most powerful stories of the night came from a poet with long red hair. She told the story of her love being abruptly taken back to Mexico by immigration services.
You could feel the sincerity in the tone of her words as her raised voice contrasted against her bouts of speaking softly.
She spoke of distance’s frustration, the pain of having to wait, the needs, wants, dreams, and demands of her own life.
She raised many questions about where to go from there and left the stage to applause, a chorus of respect and acceptance. Only in such an open and judgment-free forum could such community be felt.
President of the African Student Association, Ami Mansaray knows the magic of Lyric Lounge lies not in the atmosphere, but rather in the stories that are shared.
“Art clubs focus on art but everyone isn’t into art, and sports clubs focus on sports but everyone isn’t into sports like tae kwan do, but everyone’s a writer,” said Mansaray. “You don’t have to write with pen to paper but everyone has their stories.”
The Lyric Lounge creates a welcoming forum for EMU’s students to share their experiences, to share their lives.
They can say what they need to and do so in a way that is theirs entirely.
It is a chance for open and honest expression and if that doesn’t sound like a breath of fresh air who can say what is?
More Lyric Lounges are scheduled for 9 p.m. on Nov. 4, Dec. 2, Feb. 7 and April 7 at in room 300 of the Student Center.
For more information on upcoming lounges, or other Campus Life events, visit www.emich.edu/campuslife.
