Verse, Vibes & Bites Poetry Soiree Ends at Barnes & Noble

By Terri Allen

Publicist and Publisher for J. Joy “Sistah Joy” Matthews Alford

Almost six years ago, in August 2002, Washington area poet, Sistah Joy, debuted as Poet-in-Residence at the Barnes & Noble bookstore in downtown, Washington, DC. She accepted the appointment after having been invited by Barnes & Noble’s Metro Center location, to host a poetry set at the bookstore for three consecutive months.  Since then, Sistah Joy, a long time advocate for the arts, hosted a monthly poetry soiree, Verse, Vibes & Bites, on each third Thursday. The soiree was always free to the public.

Thursday, March 20, 2008 was the last gathering. There could have been no more fitting concluding celebration than this year’s Women’s History Month soiree, which featured 10-year-old poet and actress Monique Brown, 12-year-old poet, author and actress, Kyndall Brown, and trial attorney, Carleasa Coates. Such a diverse and inspiring line-up was typical of the monthly series, which provided consciousness-raising, invigorating, and enjoyable evenings of poetry for area residents, featured poets and guests.  Guests often said the soiree had a true “family-feeling” about it, and encouraged more than a few “closet poets” to share their work.  To the delight of poets and non-poets alike, the series always included an “open mic” session. The series will be sorely missed by arts enthusiasts, poets, spoken word artists, musicians, and thespians of every sort. Verse, Vibes, and Bites had indeed become a part of the Washington, DC arts landscape.

Sistah Joy and her partner on Djembe, Doc Powell, presented hundreds of poets over the years to Washington area residents and visitors to the Nation’s capital, providing a family-friendly evening of poetry to all within earshot of Doc’s serene drumming.  Doc was known to offer an occasional soul-stirring vocal selection as well, partnering his melodious voice with his drum. Sistah Joy sometimes presented poets who were better known outside of poetry circles such as a player from the Washington Wizard’s basketball team and the Washington Redskin’s football team. The highly successful series had a following that spanned several cultures and generations. 

While area poets were most typically featured, the series caught the attention of poets from all locales, bringing poets from as far away as Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, California and even the U.K., (England).  Poets and members of the Verse, Vibes & Bites family soon outgrew the Barnes & Noble Café where the series began and the store generously established a new space “Center Court” for the event.  With audiences that ranged from 15 to at times almost 50, the series has been home to poets, lawyers, artists, authors, professional athletes, as well as members of the homeless community.  None were turned away.  Verse, Vibes & Bites welcomed all forms of poetic expression, offering an outlet to all who cared to share. 

The Verse, Vibes & Bites poetry soiree has served the DC community well, providing an environment of support and encouragement for poets, while serving as a literary haven for guests and those frequent passers-by store patrons that so often filled a vacant back-row chair after browsing through bookshelves.  As one such delighted patron said, “it’s so exciting to find such a treasure in this town.”  Sistah Joy recalls the night a tourist from China who happened by on a night of the soiree asked her if she “could come to China to do this.” Her reply, “Gladly, provided resources to get me there and back come with the invitation!”

Sistah Joy, a native Washingtonian and full-time poet, will continue to support the arts by presenting poetry and coordinating poetry events in Washington, D.C. and the surrounding metropolitan area.  She believes that possibly a new home for the series may be on the horizon.  She and Doc have been and will continue to share their gifts wherever and whenever poets, patrons of the arts and arts enthusiasts welcome them.  Perhaps news of a new home can soon be announced for the Verse, Vibes & Bites poetry soiree.  That would indeed be a most welcomed announcement!  In the meanwhile Sistah Joy and Doc extend a heartfelt "THANK YOU!" to all who helped to make Verse, Vibes & Bites such a successful poetry series.

J. Joy “Sistah Joy” Matthews Alford can be reached on-line at Poetsistahjoy(at)aol.com.