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LISTEN: Jeanette Powers On Taking A Spin On A Carousel

Laura Spencer
/
KCUR

Spoken word artist and poet Jeanette Powers started writing at the age of 9. 

"I realized that in my imagination, I was completely free. There were no rules, there were no laws, and invention was everything," says Powers. 

"Writing has been the one thing that's been the thread throughout." 

In her poetry, Powers says she often focuses on one emotion — and doesn’t give what she describes as the "whole gamut of the experience."

For our series WORD, Powers reads "Carousel," a poem included in her second collection of poetry called Earthworms & Stars. This chapbook is the first in a series by Prospero’s Books and Spartan Press, publishing the work of a Kansas City poet each month this year.

Powers is also the general manager and booking agent for Uptown Arts Bar, which hosts open-mic events, such as poetry slams and storytelling events, as well as music.

All of our WORD readings, including bonus tracks by some poets, are archived onSoundCloud.

Kansas City is known for its style of jazz, influenced by the blues, as the home of Walt Disney’s first animation studio and the headquarters of Hallmark Cards. As one of KCUR’s arts reporters, I want people here to know a wide range of arts and culture stories from across the metropolitan area. I take listeners behind the scenes and introduce them to emerging artists and organizations, as well as keep up with established institutions. Send me an email at lauras@kcur.org or follow me on Twitter @lauraspencer.
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