Interview: Poet & Performer Joshua Betts

Joshua Betts may be new to the Buffalo Poetry world but in his short time it's clear he is serious about growing as an artist and a writer.

MCL: Do you write prose or just poetry?

JB: I mostly do poetry, but it always starts out with prose. Once I find a rambling that I feel I can connect with I expand off of it.

MCL: How did you get into poetry?

JB: I actually happened into poetry. I have always written actually. I started writing in high school but it was always for projects that even after the project was over I continued for a little while later. When I joined the Army I kind of stopped. It wasn't until I came to live in the Elmwood Village did I start again. It was a chance encounter that I did too. I was babysitting some children at the park and a fellow Artist happened to sit down next to me and struck up a conversation. Maybe it was the poet in me that makes me so outgoing, maybe it was the poet in her that made me listen, but I was invited to come to a upcoming event at the Em Tea Cup Café. I actually premiered that night at Wordism, and we'll I've been going ever since.

MCL: Some poetry influences?

JB: Hmm my poetic influences, that's a difficult question to answer. The reason is because I'm still new to this whole poetry group and the more seasoned poets are aiding me as a grow but keeping there space so they don't have any major influence on my writing so I grow into my own as an artist. I do have poets that I try to emulate though. Some of the artists that I look to to aid in my growth are, Brandon Williamson, Ben Brindise, And Jazz the Ripper. Ben for his lyricism, Jazz for her ability to touch others, and Brandon for his theater backround.

MCL: Describe your poetry?

JB: My stage name is Verse-it-isle, pronounced vercitile. I chose it cause I like to do a little bit of everything and I haven't really found by true voice yet. A friend of mine, Legendary, recently described me as a lyricist of humanity and it's emotional state. If you have ever heard me preform you'll be able to tell why I like that so much. If not well, it's cause I write for myself, but I preform to help others know that they aren't alone in their struggle.

MCL: What's the Buffalo, New York poetry scene like?

JB: Well since I'm new to the scene I don't have much to base it off of, but I will tell you it's open. Everyone I encounter simply wants to hear you preform. Even the slams which normally are the most intimidating venues are comfortable to be in.

MCL: Any local poets who helped you grow?

JB: I think I already answered this, oops, but here's a few:

BranDon Williams: co-host/founder of Pure ink.

Ben Brindise: Former Art voice winner for best poet of Buffalo.

Jazz the Ripper: Traveling poet hailing from Syracuse.

Legendary: Free style poet that has been one of my biggest supporters and friends.

But most of all Mr Jumanne Pitts. He is the leader of Wordism, and helped provided a comfortable place to share that helped me into the scene.

MCL: Some of your favorite venues and why?

JB: Most favorite venue is by far the Em Tea Cup Café, home of Wordism. It's the poetry place, it even says so in the window. It's a small venue, able to hold about 40 people. What makes it so magical is when you enter there you feel at home. The hash tag is even 'Welcome Home'.

To contact Joshua Betts for more information:

https://www.facebook.com/joshua.betts.568

https://www.facebook.com/groups/BuffaloWordism/

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