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I Dare to be Heard È* There is no greater agony than bearing an untold off Wendff MerCey story inside you. » - Mayo Angetou T he first time I spoke in front of a large c r o w d , I was in grade six. O u r principal was retiring and my job was to present him w i t h a marble pen set at an assembly for the entire school. M a k i n g my w a y across the stage t o deliver my speech, I felt m y h e a r t p o u n d i n g , m y legs w e r e w o b b l y a n d my face felt flushed. W h e n I f i n a l l y reached the p o d i u m and l o o k e d a n x i o u s l y at the a u d i e n c e , I w o n d e r e d whatever possessed me t o volunteer for this nerve wracking experience. Years later when I think back on this m o m e n t , I realize it t o o k lots o f courage o n m y part as I w a s a n e x t r e m e l y shy individual. D e l i v e r i n g a s p e e c h , m a k i n g a toast o r r e a d i n g a passage c a n be r e w a r d i n g if y o u are p r e p a r e d , c o n f i d e n t a n d r e l a x e d . D a r e T o Be H e a r d , at Bean A r o u n d the W o r l d on the Seymour P a r k w a y p r o v i d e s the a u d i e n c e a n d venue f o r the l o c a l w r i t i n g community on the N o r t h Shore to read t o a welcoming audience. Joyce G o o d w i n and Shelley H a r r i s o n Rae began D a r e T o Be H e a r d i n January 2 0 0 5 . Both of these established writers l i k e d the idea o f an open mic night. H o l d i n g it at a well k n o w n coffee shop that generously donated their sound system has been ideal for the many readers and listeners. H e l d the first Tuesday of each month at 7 : 3 0 p m , Dare To Be Heard has a loyal core group of N o r t h Shore writers w h o read aloud their poems, fiction and non-fiction w o r k . " W e hoped to attract more people than we scared a w a y , " says Shelley. They appear to have succeeded. O n e p o p u l a r reader is E l a i n e Berg. H e r specialty is d i a l o g u e w r i t i n g w h i c h can be described as a humorous slice of life. " A g n e s & O s w a l d , " e v o l v e d at a w r i t i n g w o r k s h o p . T h e o p e n i n g sentence t o a n exercise w a s , " W h a t I really w a n t to say i s . . . " . O n that p a r t i c u l a r day. Berg chose the w o r d " s h u t - u p , " mainly because she was annoyed at her h u s b a n d . H e n c e . . . " A g n e s & O s w a l d " became the o n g o i n g , exaggerated saga of Berg's life. "1 don't dare read a n y t h i n g else or, people w o u l d be d i s a p p o i n t e d , " says Berg w h o has a f o l l o w i n g that come to T h e Bean to hear the latest antics every month. The night is casual. W h i l e sipping coffee and tea, readers and w r i t e r s quietly chat about everyday happenings until the M C announces the readers. W h e n their name is called, they make their way up to the mic, smile at the audience and begin to read. As 1 listen from my table and observe at h o w easy it appears, I think "maybe I'll give it a try." W ALKING ON THE WILD SIDE By Joyce Goodwin With stealth it creeps towards us, the wilderness. Forests mere extensions of our North Shore gardens, where wild creatures recognize no boundaries between the two. There are deer amongst daffodils, raccoons on roofs, skunks under doorsteps and coyotes on streets. Bears and cougars roam creeks and trails, encounters with wild things an unspoken promise. In the night a thousand glowing eyes watch over us. We live on the edge of two worids, our own and the one across the water with its concrete and glass illusions. Two iron bridges span the divide, each a colossus, with a foot in both worlds, connecting them. We cross bridges as we would tightropes, balancing two sides of ourselves, the tamed and the untamed. We live with the untamed and walk on the wild side. T HE M A N IN THE M OON by Shelley Harrison Rae The man in Ihe moon raises up his big. bold face and hangs himself just outside my kitchen window His light floats on the rousing night sea in a glowing, howling dance like a precious lover letting go knowing there may not be a next time WHAT: Dare to be Heard WHEN: First Tuesday of Each Month @ 7:30 pm WHERE: Bean Around the World on Mt. Seymour Parkway PRICE: Free 4 JanuaryjFebruary