I Wear Lipstick So People Can Hear My Poems Copyright © Kaaren Whitney 2010

Reading by Jenny Chantler

define the outline in deep red with vain hope
of enunciating each syllabic phrase
with a flawless precision that will enhance
its aural reception in the listener’s ear.

It is my last ditch stand to stem comments
like ‘couldn’t quite make out what you said, dear’
‘loved your poem but I didn’t catch all the words’
‘you dropped your voice at the end, just couldn’t hear.’

I much prefer to bask in supporter’s views
of my voice being deep, rich and throaty,
a voice that conveys emotion, elusive
at times,  forthright when needed, soothing at best.

RADA-trained teacher slightly improves output,
not her fault my voice box resonates in low,
or soft, while I do my utmost to project;
to me it seems like shouting, all feeling lost.

She says 'vary the rhythm, quicken the pace,
let go here, put emphasis on the last word'.
Although I always give of my all, when I heard
about lipstick, I thought, that’s something I can do!