Folded Whispers: A Night of Poetry with Mark Anthony Thomas

Mark Anthony Thomas is an economic development official in Baltimore, Maryland. However, he has an extensive creative background in writing. Thomas is a published poet and has recently released a short film documenting a live reading of his original poetry.

Folded Whispers is performed in Kelly Strayhorn Theater to friends and members of the Pittsburgh community. It captures a collection of his work that covers love, loss, race, identity, urbanisation and the pandemic.

This is his first performance in 15 years. Thomas explains that he wouldn’t be where he is now if he hadn’t started writing as a teenager. From humble beginnings, he described his childhood as his rocketship that helped him to develop his career as an economic development officer.

The poems walk us through poignant times in his life over the last decade and a half. The journey is vivid in his storytelling, touching on universal fears and experiences.

I will pray for rain.
Open no blinds.
Change no channels.
Write no new testaments or disguise them as folded whispers.
The day before will be my dissertation, and I’ll sleep in until my judgement is called.

End of the World – Mark Anthony Thomas

The journey with Mark Anthony Thomas begins with the End of the World, encapsulating what I believe to be the depression of the pandemic.

Superpowers seeking dominance will pray to Jesus and He’ll be answering no calls.

In this poem, I heard the fears from every walk of life being the same, with no one to save any of them. I think it’s the story of everyone being in the same boat, regardless of economic status or beliefs.

The performance ends with a pick-me-up, For Real. With the promise to himself that despite his wrongdoings, he will find love again. That he is not doomed to walk with bad karma on his back if he doesn’t choose to. That the only way forward is to believe in himself, instead of spiralling in his guilt.

“The aftermath can keep us tumbling.
The repercussions can be endless journeys.
Neither now appear to be my destiny.”

For Real – Mark Anthony Thomas

Having had a secret interest in poetry slams, Folded Whispers was of immediate interest to me. Check out his short documentary film below and let me know what interpretations you experienced in the comments.

Follow Mark Anthony Thomas on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Jodie

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