Word was getting around of a poetry slam happening at the SS Cafe and Bistro, and never having been to one curiosity drove me to check out the place, once again.
I entered the SS Cafe and Bistro expecting a cover charge, but to my surprise I was casually waved in by a bloke puffing on a cigar, deep into a book, The Saviours of God: Spiritual Exercises, by Nicos Kazantzikas, this huge dog, maybe Cerberus, sitting at his feet giving me a searchimg stare.
I observed an enthusiastic crowd seated at tables surrounding a small stage, shouting encouragement to a red headed woman slamming poetry, and I’m sure I saw the ghost of Charles Bukowski hovering overhead, dragging on a cigarette , hoisting a beer, grinning from ear to ear.
Thinking this might be my only opportunity to explore the place and using the poetry slam as a distraction, I made my way past the managers office into the dark corridor beyond.
I stepped hesitantly into the corridor, my head spinning with the onset of claustrophobia as the walls pressed close on each side, it was unnaturally quiet, no sound intruding from the poetry slam, the air humid and electric as if announcing a pending storm.
Was that a soft footstep up ahead, I hesitated, should I go further or return, and my mind was made up as the lights flickered and then extinguished leaving me in total darkness, so I made a sensible withdrawal to the safe, comforting haven of the poetry slam, contrasting the sensory overload of happy vibes to the sensory deprivation of that dark corridor.
You nailed it… that’s the Gatekeeper allright!
The darkness of the corridor will always be there to explore… but a slam poetry night won’t; good call.
Welcome & enjoy, Len.
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Thanks, Nick, the inspiration came from your published AI black and white image.
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Welcome to the Six Sentence Cafe & Bistro, Len! There’s never a cover charge, even for special events. Daring to wander the hallway? Yikes! Glad you returned to the Slam. Way more fun out there, never know who’ll you run into. Performances so far are excellent! Enjoy!
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Thanks, Denise, it’s always fun exploring, and the SS Cafe and Bistro may hold many secrets……..and I did enjoy the Poetry Slam.
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Wonderful description of the SSC&B. I especially liked your description of the Gatekeeper.
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Thanks, Frank. Nick had produced a black and white AI image of himself and a dog, I just modelled the words on the image.
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What a wonderfully descriptive piece – love it 🙌
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Thank you for your kind words.
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💜
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I’m not sure exploring the SSC&B unaccomanied is such a good idea.
Until seeing your picture I had no idea how similar the SSC&B is to the bistro I once ran, small stage and all! Creepy!
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Life imitates art, or is it the other way round.
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Good choice, Len. The Cafe has a mind and spirit(s) of their own, and lets folks know their boundaries, as well as liminal spaces, in no uncertain terms. So grab a drink, pull up a chair, and welcome back into the light. The slam is starting to roll!
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The choice light or darkness, time will tell.
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Oh my-my I kinda do wsh you had gone further… But that was a fun way to visit us. And this dog… I don’t know what it is but it knows so much more of something about the visitors of the cafe than meets the eye…
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I know, dogs have their own agenda.
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Stick around a bit and listen, you may enjoy it. As for the corridor, you’re welcome to explore, I suggest go with someone and both of you have some type of light, fully charged up.
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I know. Light versus darkness, both have intriguing qualities. Which one will win out.
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