BROOKLYN, NY— A local spoken word poet so desperately misses the bi-weekly open mic night at his favorite cafe that he has taken to the streets to protest for the reopening of the country. With Americans gathering in large assemblies to protest the shelter-in-place-orders put in place, this poet just couldn’t help but join the cause. “It’s so hard, not being able to express my art to twelve people drinking cappuccinos every other week,” the poet told Sleeping Sardines, adjusting his beret. “If the release of my poetry isn’t ‘necessary business,’ then I don’t know what is,” he continued. Although no one can dispute that the opportunity to watch mediocre guitarists, barking poets, and the occasional awkward stand up comedian every second and fourth Wednesday of the month makes the world a better place, one might ask themselves: are these performances ever really necessary, pandemic or otherwise? “I just want to feel heard,” the poet admitted, adding, “And I have this really great poem that draws a metaphor between a bag of craisins and sexual desire. The world must hear it.”