06.30.09
And the winner is…
In March 2009, I started making videos of myself reciting poetry over music and photographs. The comments I received were so positive that I was encouraged to make a CD.
I love Spoken Word poetry. However, my goal was to create a unique concept, or something that was very different from what I was used to hearing.
At the end of April, I released my fourth collection of poetry, entitled Project: Heartbeats and Elevation. This book is very important to me, because it sums up the core of my beliefs in God. While writing it, I came to realize that my purpose in life was to write poetry (and maybe lyrics, eventually). I know I can reach people that way. I am not good at writing novels or short stories. I wrote two plays, and I loved it. But, poetry is really my thing.
I wanted to title my CD Poetic Presence. These two words made sense to me. I loved this title! Nonetheless, I found that someone had already used it for another purpose. So, copyrights being what they are, I decided to go for something different: This Is Poetry. I wanted to find something that did not have a spiritual taste to it. That second title sounded good to me.
Then, at the beginning of June, my friend Shelton Elkins, the author of A Mile in My Shoes, suffered a heart attack, fell in a coma, and passed away two weeks later. During one of our first online conversations, he had sent me a story called Rizen. When I read it, I was dumbfounded. It was a masterpiece! I found myself thinking: “This guy is the most amazing writer you have ever talked to.” Shortly after, we started collaborating on poems, and our ultimate goal was to work on a common body of work.
So, when Shelton died, it made sense to me that a tribute should be paid him. Rizen – The CD was the title that I chose. And the more I listen to the tracks, the more fitting it is.
I had started working on the CD in May, and had run into miscellaneous difficulties. When you have no studio, no experience and no way to really soundproof the room you work in, the challenge is HUGE! I am a perfectionist and I spent hours recording each of the sixteen poems. If I found one word or one syllable that did not sound good, I had to start again. I worked 6 days a week, and ten hours a day for over a month and a half.
It was an exhausting but enriching experience. I can honestly say that I enjoyed it tremendously. I am very proud of my achievement, and I hope you will be able to feel that if you ever listen to the album.
If you are interested in checking out Rizen – The CD, visit the following link: http://www.wix.com/cendrine/Rizen—The-CD. You will be able to listen to the first two tracks for free. Or you can access the page from my website at http://www.soulpoetrysite.com. I have posted promotional videos in my channel on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoXvUMsGFtc and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3OdoLRkMNk
The CD will be available from Lulu.com in about a week. You will be able to purchase the album in MP3 format in a couple of days.
So, stay tuned! 
06.27.09
Yes, it is ok to sell poetry….
Poetry is considered as a weak form of art. Weak, in the sense that most people would never buy a collection of poems, except if the poet is renowned. Why? Because, according to what I have heard over the years: “Poetry is the only form of art that should be available for free.” I beg to differ.
People buy paintings, music, novels, etc. They may complain about the prices, but they will always buy those things. They never question the fact that the authors are artists that make a living out of their craft. They do not question their ethics either. It is their job, and as such, they should be rewarded. However, when it comes to poetry, it is another story.
When I talk about what I do, people often smile. “Oh, you write poetry? How interesting! But what do YOU do?” “Well, I have just told you, I am a Poet.” “Yes, I heard that. But, what is your job?” That’s when I usually change topic, because I am tired of having to explain to people that Poetry is my career. Actually, it is much more than a career. It is a passion!
I think that the whole issue here is that a lot of people have the wrong idea about poetry. And I know what I am talking about: I was one of them a long time ago. As an English major having studied in France (my birth country and a place where criticism is the national motto), I had to write countless essays on poems. In those essays, I analyzed each and every sound, syllable, word, rhyme, or sentence using what we had been taught, in order to find ideas and concepts that were nowhere near what the author had originally meant. It took me a while to overcome that feeling of disgust towards a form of art that I now consider as my favourite.
Poetry demands skills, passion, and patience. Most people, due to what I have just talked about, fail to see that it is a matter of feelings and not analysis. Let go of your preconceived ideas about poetry and read it for what it is: a message from the Poet’s soul.
As a conclusion to this article, I will quote the introduction to my last book Project: Heartbeats and Elevation:
“According to many, poetry is on the verge of extinction, doomed to disappear in the miasma of mediocrity. However, those who condemn this art form do not realize how untrue it is. Poetry is not dying. It cannot die. It will not die.
Although it was valued highly at some point in history, poetry has always been considered with some disrespect compared to other art forms such as painting or theatre. Only a few poets are remembered today, for two reasons: they were not numerous at the time or had a way with words. But today, with everybody trying their hand at poetry, the quality has dramatically decreased. Furthermore, school does not promote poetry the way it could or should.
Poets are often described as neurotic and antisocial. As a result, generations of readers have avoided poetry because they are still under the impression that it is too abstract or too hard to understand. Indeed, some poets enjoy writing about obscurity and using difficult words. Nonetheless, many talented but unknown voices have been discouraged and have stopped writing simply because no one cares to listen nor read what they had to say.
My intention, with this book, is not to make history. I am not Shakespeare, Victor Hugo, or Elizabeth Bishop. My only purpose is to offer my vision of spirituality and God. For me, poetry is the best medium. It does not have to be abstract or pedantic to hammer its truth home. Poetry serves a singular and quite unique design in life.
The way each individual interprets words and phrases, rhythm and sounds does not matter. It is all about firm belief; belief in the beauty of nature, life, love, and possibilities. Of course, one will always find pain, misunderstanding, as well as anger along the way. However, if one can see beyond those hurdles, the rewards will be bountiful!
I hope you will enjoy this collection.”
Now, go and read some poetry!
http://www.stellarshowcasejournal.com/sept.oct.nov/cendrine.marrouat.htm
http://www.stellarshowcasejournal.com/winter/cendrine.marrouat.htm
http://www.emuse-zine.com/page10.html
Oh, and while you are doing that, do not forget to support me: http://soulpoetrysite.weebly.com/
Lest We Forget
What do Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Ed McMahon, and Shelton Elkins have in common? They all passed away this week. My deepest condolescences go to their families and friends.
We all die. We will never know when or how. But, WE die. There is nothing we can say or do that will change that particular problem. Losing people we love is always challenging and it may take a while for some to recover from it.
I remember MJ’s trials and how half the world condemned and judged him. I remember when most said that his musical career was dead. Simply put, he was hated for years. And now that he has gone, the whole world is on its knees, singing his praise. Former judges have become worshippers (except for Perez Hilton, maybe). Haters are now lovers of his music.
I never watched Charlie’s Angels except when the movie was released. I heard of Farrah Fawcett through Who’s the Boss and I know she had cancer. And Ed McMahon is unknown to me. On the other hand, Shelton Elkins is not. He was a friend and a tremendous writer.
I am a fervent user of Twitter. I also like Facebook. Yesterday, I saw the most incredible amount of messages about MJ and FF. Everybody was understandably sad. I also saw another side of the coin: people starting to spread rumours about other people dying. I will not comment on that, because it would be a waste of time and energy. Those people were obviously looking for some publicity.
However sad those past events have been, they have also brought millions of people closer. While this particular fact is great in itself, it also makes me wonder about one thing: when somebody is alive, people pinpoint each one of their faults and mistakes. When they pass away, they realize how much they loved them. Why wait until Death is around the corner to finally focus on a person’s achievements?
My aunt was 52 when she died from breast cancer; my mother committed suicide at 54; and my grandfather passed away last year after losing both his legs and his desire for life. I may not understand what they went through. However, I know what a life of anger and pain can lead to.
I am far from being perfect. I am stubborn and sometimes a little moody. However, when I make a decision, I know I will never regret it. So, let me tell you this. Do not wait until someone passes away to tell them how much you love them. Do not dwell on the past or the pain they may have put you through. If you have a bone to pick with someone, talk things over in a respectful manner and start with a clean slate. If it is not possible, then write them a letter. Just do what you can to be at peace with them and yourself. I did that with my family members. And it helped me experience death in a positive way…
