Arts & Entertainment

Babylon-Native Will Read Poetry for Sandy Victims

Babylon's Billy Lamont will read live at Old Babylon Town Hall on October 5.

Babylon Village poet Billy Lamont will perform a live reading of his latest poetry with live music and more at Old Babylon Town Hall on Oct. 5.

"My CD was titled Beyond Babylon and I recorded 90 percent of the poetry on September 19th, 2012 for my son Zion," Lamont said in a statement. "The inspiration that moved me was the previous years of being a single Father to Zion (with Joint Custody) and living in my hometown of Babylon, NY. The inspiration centered on the Psalm in Holy Bible, 'By the waters of Babylon I wept for Zion.'"

He added: "The poetry is words of hope within the disorientation of personal suffering and brokenness."

The Babylon Citizens Council on the Arts has organized the event at Old Babylon Town Hall as part of an art exhibit from others affected by Hurricane Sandy.

"When Hurricane Sandy devastated my hometown of Babylon, and the surrounding areas on October 29th, 2012, I began to reach out to help some of the suffering like so many people in the local area were doing," Lamont said. "Various neighbors, help organizations and church leaders recognized me as the poet that has appeared on national television many times and has given book signings in major bookstores in local malls. So they asked me to recite my poetry at various events and outreaches for Hurricane Sandy victims."

Lamont said he was filled with sadness following the storm and decided to begin reciting his poetry following the huge hurricane.

"The poetry, the local town references and symbols has taken on a greater meaning for others especially scattered (dizzy)  by le pre noir and I," he said. "It is powerful the healing within this poetry and music, something greater than I so I am trying to get out of the way of it."

Lamont's newest CD album will hit stores, including digital retailers like iTunes and Amazon, on Oct. 2.


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