Local poets pour out their work

When Jason Ammerman speaks, he doesn't use a microphone. He is so passionate and authoritative about his art, he doesn't need to -- his voice increases in volume tenfold with his delivery. Ammerman and his fellow literary warriors held a captive audience with their poetic insights into life and its nuances Saturday at the Espresso Royale Cafe, 430 E. Kirkwood Ave.\nLive poetry is seeing a resurgence in Bloomington. More poets, storytellers and musicians can be seen around the town, in shops and out on the streets playing, singing and reciting their works. \nJoe Kerschbaum, a local poet and publicist for Matrix Literary Organization, began to organize readings and slams at various locations in the city. Past events have been held at Vertigo, but Kerschbaum said the move to Espresso Royale was good so the under-21 crowd could enjoy the art as well.\n"The last time we had a reading at Vertigo, we had 10 people there, but had to turn away 15," he said.\nThe smaller Espresso Royale is a much more intimate setting, with the poets practically breathing onto their listeners while they drink their coffees and teas and take in the words offered to them.\nKerschbaum explained the difference between a poetry reading, which is what the Espresso Royale event was, slam and performance poetry.\nA reading is just that; poets go to the stage and read their work, and the focus is completely on the message of the text. A slam is a competition where poets have two to three minutes to recite a piece, with no props or music. Judges score each poet every round until a winner is declared. Slams are often as rowdy as sporting events. A performance piece may encompass dramatic elements, music, a back-up band, props, etc.\nThe first up, who went by the name of Jenfish Superstar, sported flaming red hair and tattoos, but Kerschbaum and Ammerman looked like everyday guys. Kerschbaum resembled a taller Rick Moranis, and Ammerman appeared to channel "Clerks" star Kevin Smith with his long hair, orange plaid shirt and backwards ball cap.\nAll of the poets featured Saturday have books of their work available. \nJenfish's book, "Shit Magnet", is handmade for each customer. She takes old books and pastes her poems onto the pages, and pastes her title onto the cover. Jenfish said each book varies in the amount of time it takes to make because if there are pictures already in a book to be transformed, she pastes her words around them.\nKerschbaum published his first book three weeks ago, and Ammerman has a book as well.\nTo support their literary exploits, all of the poets have day jobs.\nKerschbaum is a Promoter at 1st Books, a local publishing company.\n"I consider that my job and (poetry) my work," he said.\nJenfish said she needs the balance that regular employment brings.\n"I have to have a day job," she said. "If I did art all the time it would lose some of its meaning."\nJenfish and Ammerman are experienced poets and have read poetry in New York City, Chicago and other places. Jenfish said she got her break when she was invited to read at Ladyfest in Olympia, Wash. Ammerman has read and competed in slams around the country.\nJenfish began her set with a story about a boy with no belly button and the girl that was tormented with trying to find out why his orifice was missing.\n"She figured he had a hole at the top of his head, like a dolphin ..."\nJenfish also dealt with divorce and faith in her work.\nKerschbaum's works had a common theme of an elusive female figure, the "she" pronoun was prevalent in the majority of his pieces, sometimes as the subject and sometimes as the object. Kerschbaum also addressed rising cultural prejudices in his own experience, in his piece about assuming a man who left his backpack in a cafe was a suicide bomber, only to find out he was a student when the man came back later to collect his books.\nAmmerman ended the set with poetry that was filled with analogies to his hometown of Indianapolis and quips about his life experiences. In one piece, however, Ammerman dealt with the changing American social landscape.\n"I lost America, but if you run into her, tell her I miss her."\nKerschbaum, if he has his way, said he will make poetry reading a regular event at the Espresso Royale, as well as other venues throughout Bloomington.\n"I hope it becomes more common," he said. "There's always been an arts scene in Bloomington, you just have to keep stimulating it"