poem Made Any Difference, a poem about sharing a smoke to talk to a stroke victim, By Chicago Poet Janet Kuypers

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Made Any Difference
Listen
Janet Kuypers
04/26/11

So I’m at my bar
I just overheard
that another guy
in the past few months
and this is grapevine
but I needed to see him
he went out for a smoke
I walked outside
I reached my hand out
he offered me a new one
then holding his smoke
I spoke of his wife
and I don’t want to
but we care for him
he said I was right
then he saw his smoke
handed me the smoke
I stood there a while
wondering if I

my favorite hang-out
from people talking
who’s always here
has had a few strokes
I just heard snippets
put in my two cents
and even though I don’t
after he lit up
toward his smoke
but... I wanted his
I told him I heard
asked about his kids
get on a high horse
we want him happy
he’ll take some time off
said that he should quit
and then walked away
sucking nicotine
made any difference

Listen (3:04) to the first recording of this poem sung with John Yotko (with John playing guitar, in preparation for the CD single release of this writing)

Watch the YouTube video
of Kuypers singing this poem 06/28/11 on WZRD radio (C. Schandelmeier & John Yotko singing back-up)

(2:22, live 06/26/11 at WZRD Radio (from the main camera)

See feature-length YouTube
video 06/26/11 of the majority of the WZRD radio show with her reading poetry (including this poem) from the main camera

Watch the YouTube video
of this in a live performance in Chicago of the “a Very Goth Beach Party” feature 07/03/11 at “Beach Poets”

Watch the YouTube video
of the eye cam recording of this in the “a Very Goth Beach Party” feature, live 07/03/11 at “Beach Poets”

See feature-length YouTube
video of many poems read 07/03/11
at Beach Poets from the live feature
“a Very Goth Beach Party”

See feature-length YouTube
video of the eye-cam of the entire show at Beach Poets 07/03/11 from the “a Very Goth Beach Party” feature

Download the chapbook with this writing in a Very Goth Beach Chapbook

Watch the YouTube video
performed live (John Yotko back-up vocals and rain stick) at Trunk Fest’s Triple Threat , her outdoor Evanston IL feature 07/24/11

See the full YouTube video of Triple Threat at Trunk Fest, live 07/24/11, which includes this writing

Watch the YouTube video
of this in a live Pilsen feature of poems in her book Contents Under Pressure 09/03/11 at Café Mestizo

See feature-length YouTube
video of many poems (including this one) read 09/03/11 at Café Mestizo from the live feature

Watch this YouTube video

of Kuypers 10/07/11 in the Omniphonic Challenge at St. Paul’s (performing in the de-sanctified church), with John Yotko pre-recorded and live music (from the Sony Camera)

Watch this Complete feature video of the ENTIRE Omniphonic Challenge show 10/07/11 (with this poem) St. Paul’s (de-sanctified church), with John Yotko music (on the Sony Camera)

Watch this Complete feature video of the ENTIRE Omniphonic Challenge show 10/07/11 (with this poem) St. Paul’s (de-sanctified church), with John Yotko music (on the Canon Camera)

Rather read it? Then read the original writing

Watch this YouTube video

read live 11/20/11, at the Café open mike in Chicago

Watch this YouTube video

read live in the show “hmmm” 11/20/11 at the Café open mike in Chicago

Watch this YouTube video
of the entire Janet Kuypers show “hmm” (including this piece) live 11/20/11, at the Café open mike in Chicago

Watch this YouTube video

read live 12/18/11, at the Café weekly poetry open mike she hosts in Chicago (with guitar and back-up vocals by John Yotko)

Watch this YouTube video
of ther reading many poems 12/18/11 at the Café in Chicago (music bt the HA!man of South Africa, vocals by Suzanne Hettinger, guitar by John Yotko) including this writing

Watch this YouTube video

read live 12/18/11, at the Café weekly poetry open mike she hosts in Chicago (with guitar and back-up vocals by John Yotko), from the Samsung Camera

Watch this YouTube video

read live 12/18/11, at the Café weekly poetry open mike she hosts in Chicago (with guitar and back-up vocals by John Yotko), from the Kodak Camera

Watch this YouTube video

live at Gallery Cabaret in Chicago, with John Yotko on guitar 12/18/11

Watch this YouTube video
live at Café Ballou 1/2/12, with John Yotko on guitar and sampled wind-up clock ticking (from the Samsung)

Watch this YouTube video
live at Café Ballou 1/2/12, with John Yotko on guitar and sampled wind-up clock ticking (from the Sony)

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