Mic Nightlife: Lewistry & Dave

Lewistry & Dave create space for those that don’t always feel safe. Two travellers of bumpy roads that somehow met in the right place at the right time - for each other and the communities they curate. Proof that perseverance and patience can pave the way to the promised land.

Two pilgrim’s paths meet
At just the moment they must
An artful embrace!

Why did you start the poetry night?
Dave -  The answer to this question has a little back story of how Lewistry and Dave first came together - We were at WriteB4theMic, hosted by Starlight. It was my first time there and Lewis was a regular, I read a poem that Lewis absolutely loved (about love as it so happens). He came up to me after and said “wow we have to do something together”, and the rest is literally history rolling out in front of us. We immediately knew this was going to be something special - a community forward place where people can hang out, see friends, meet new people and feel connected to one another. A place where everyone feels safe, heard and understood.

Lewistry - Lewistry&Dave community events are more than just open mic poetry sessions. It’s about bringing poetry to communities that (often for the first time), get to hear poetry that relates to the world around them today.  Whether it's humor, politics, living standards or just about their communities, people get to sit back and leave their troubles at the door.

When I heard Dave read the poem they mention above, it had me off my chair and on my feet applauding. Clapping so loud that my partner had to tug on my jeans to calm down as I was apparently causing a scene! Hearing poets like Dave challenges me to raise my penmanship game, and aim to write something related to, and elevated from what I just heard. Lifting each other up is central to our movement. Lewistry&Dave events offer relief to an overworked, overstressed community whose creativity can feel lost in a society that doesn’t make sense to them.

People in our community can sometimes feel like nobody cares about them and they’re last on every list. We provide a respite from this, somewhere people can be fed (literally with Eileen’s amazing cakes!) and by each other's words and care.

How would you describe the vibe of your nights?
Lewistry - We encourage our poets and friends to look beyond the events and expand the power of art into their lives. They can all be entrepreneurs, event hosts, organisers, connectors, that's just for starters. So for a couple of hours you can express your talents, and be part of a co-op of likeminded humans.

Dave - Yes! What he said and I’d describe them as multi faceted. Funny, light, joyful, heavy, deep, loving, lively. That doesn’t seem like enough words yet… Caring, communal, understanding - somewhere where anyone is welcome.

Now is the time

Now is the time
To make a name
For yourself
Make a name for me
Now is the time to get up
Stand on your feet
2 foot on the floor
10 toes
Rows and rows
Of filled seat
Heaving
Bursting at the seems
Screaming
Out our names
Reaching out their hands just to get close
I throw out my arms full of love
Full of light
Something so endless
That it sits in your brain days after
Something so beautiful
It wraps everyone in warm blanket of love
That makes you feel back in the arms of your mother
Back in the arms of your family
Who hold you tightly
Who pick you up each time you fall on your face
With no judgement
Only smiling eyes that will you to go on
Only wanting hands that lift you from the dirt
The love of ones supporters all shapes and sizes
The ones that keep us from falling
and us them
Grateful
Growing
Glowing
Careful
Caring
Community
-  Dave

What do you love most about the poetry scene?
Dave - I’ve said it in every paragraph so far but I’m gonna say it again, I love our community. I come from a bit of a broken home and was moved around a lot. I never really felt like I fit in, I felt like an outsider but since I found poetry, open mics and events it really feels like I found the place where I belong. For that I am forever grateful. I love everyone just holding space for each other - crying at each others pain, laughing at each other's jokes. It’s a support system for all of us.

Lewistry - It’s incredible how poetry brings people together who may never have met otherwise. I’m a Black, 50 yr old man with a past of crime and substance abuse who grew up on an east end council estate among signs in pub windows and shop doorways that in no uncertain terms said - “No Blacks, No Dogs and No Irish”. Dave is a 27yr old who grew up in a complicated home and in a completely different part of London but who found themselves living similar experiences. A poem, read on a stage, brought us together. Now, we have support and attention from NHS programs, and charities like ETAT and Homeless Diamonds. Along with publications like TheNeverZine to tell our story. I have even appeared at the House of Lords reciting poetry for the charity Your Place. How did we come together and make all this happen - The Answer is art!

ETAT & Dr Mary Hickey are more than charities
tThey call each other “Friends”
But it's more like a family
My life's devotion was to make a community for the outspoken
A Co-Op of Poetry.
ETAT gave me safe haven, which brought clarity
The Thamesbank centre is Lewistry&Dave HQ now
Dr Mary Hickey Foundation integrated us into Pimlico and the wider Westminster community somehow
Lewistry&Dave have been part of projects which we now can be so proud
It wasn't just poetry - we're free to be.
I learned about photography, drawing and painting, not to waste time hating
More time to see people who are amazing
And that's when Dave came in
We started Lewistry&Dave which has a nice ring
And, we just kept growing
Hosting big events with 100 plus showing
all artists
Whose art were created from something traumatic
Something horrific
Though, some so romantic
Verses that are painfully realistic
We pulled together
Now here we all sit
Hear the poets
Our lens focused on the poetic
The brush painting bards with every stroke
The pen has become the sword that can never be broken
We woke up, without being woken from a world of slumber
Togetherness at the same time is the order
One intent, the same direction, our only expectation is to give the person next to you your purest attention
ETAT & Mary Hickey are like a tsunami wave
But when the tide rolls out
What was left was Lewistry&Dave
Who will be the next star to fish when the tide
Rolls back in?

Lewistry - In closing I'd like to extend a special thanks to Tanya O'Brien at the Dr. Hickey Surgery for all her support, kindness and encouragement, please consider supporting them in their 127 Miles of Hope: Walk from Pimlico to Glastonbury.

"Working with Lewistry has been one of the most rewarding parts of my work. I first came across his writing when we were encouraging patients at the Dr Hickey Surgery to share their creativity through a magazine. It was clear he had a rare combination of talent, honesty, and passion in his words. I simply try to support Lewistry however I can - Our collaboration has shown me how powerful it can be when people are given the chance to be seen, heard, and celebrated"

Check out the Co-Op of Poetry podcast from Lewistry and Threads. And find them at Dave Instagram and Lewistry Instagram.

Mic Nightlife is a photography, poetry and storytelling series celebrating the places people share words. Please invite us to your night!

We're constantly on the look out for new artists, creatives and initiatives to feature in TheNeverZine - so if you are, or know someone who is going their own way and doing their own thing on their own terms and would be a good fit to feature please smash that button below and get in contact. By talking to each other, and sharing our journeys, ideas and insights on creativity, art, mental health and resilience we can all create, share and thrive together. Nice thought that.

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