, Correspondent
This summer, we peer into quiet nooks and funky crannies of the Triangle, seeking adventures to entice even those who think it's all been done before.Poets in the Triangle have a tough lot.They pursue their craft in solitude, and when it comes time to try out their work before an audience, they usually have to choose between following a hip-hop artist at an open mike night or scheduling special shows at bookstores and cafes."There really isn't a lot of poetry around," said Monica Daye, the 24-year-old host of Shairi's (the name means poetry in Swahili), the latest attempt by local poets to provide a place for their fellow artists to perform.Shairi's (pronounced "shy-eries") started in July and happens on the first Saturday of each month at the Marvell Event Center in Durham. Daye said performing and listening to poetry helps people deal with personal issues."It's therapy, so it helps to get it out, whether you write it or get on the mike and express it," she said.A community activist who has worked on domestic violence issues, Daye said she hopes her poetry night sparks conversations about community issues."Even though we are based around poetry, we are going to be having discussions about things going on in the community, from child molestation to domestic violence to sexual assault," she said.While Daye and others work to create dedicated spaces for poetry, poets continue to perform at other venues. At Montas Lounge, which holds an open mike night every Thursday, Patrick Mitchell, who performs as "Omar," was the only poet there in a group of performers that ranged from R&B musicians to motivational speakers.Mitchell, who lives in Durham, said Tupac Shakur, the deceased rapper and poet, inspired him to write poetry."It's peaceful, liberating," he said. "It makes your mind feel free when there's a lot of worldly trouble going on."While Mitchell and others do struggle to find an audience when they're squeezed between artists who blare music for their pieces, he said he liked the eclecticism of an open mike night."It's a variety of things people can listen to instead of one thing, and that's a good thing," he said.The next Shairi's will be at 8 p.m. Sept. 10 at Marvell Event Center, 119 W. Main St. Tickets are $5 before 8 p.m., $8 after. Open mike at Montas Lounge, 2223 N.C. 54, is Thursdays at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10. Details: 672-1701 or www.clubmontas.com.
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