This project is now complete! All audio files can be found on our catalog page: https://librivox.org/the-empty-room-by-katharine-lee-bates/
Each fortnight a poem is chosen to be recorded by as many LibriVox volunteers as possible!LibriVox volunteers bring you 13 recordings of The Empty Room by Katharine Lee Bates.
This was the Fortnightly Poetry project for December 19, 2021. (Summary by TriciaG)
This fortnight's poem can be found here.
New to recording? Please see our Newbie Guide to Recording for further instructions. A quick guide to our required technical settings can be found here. When you post your file, please tell the BC what name you would like to use in our catalog.
LibriVox recording settings: mono (1 channel), 44100 Hz sample rate, 128 kbps constant bit rate MP3. See the Tech Specs
Begin your reading with the abbreviated LibriVox disclaimer:
Leave 0.5 to 1 second of silence at the beginning.
Then read the poem:The Empty Room by Katharine Lee Bates, read for librivox.org by [your name].
[Add, if you wish, date, and/or your location.]
At the end of your reading, leave a space and then say:'Tis a fable of the East,
Oft by grave-eyed merchants told,
Resting for their frugal feast,
Dates and fountain-water cold,
Underneath the shadow calm
Of the palm.
Once a sage of sages, bowed
By the griefs of many years,
Led two young disciples, vowed
Unto truth beyond their peers,
To an empty room. Surprise
Lit their eyes.
Unto each he gave a coin,
While they waited, fain to do
What the master might enjoin.
Tremulous his words and few:
"Spend the gold and fill the bare
Chamber there."
Sped the first with eager feet
To the gay bazaars and bought
What he deemed most rich and meet,
Woods and stuffs full deftly wrought;
But not all their costly grace
Filled the space.
Musing deep in earnest breast,
Through the mart his fellow passed
And a candle bought: the rest
Of the gold as alms he cast;
For the room his candle bright
Filled with light.
Quoth the sage: "By this once more
Teach I, ere my voice is still,
Vanity of earthly store.
Only Allah's love can fill
These our empty hearts. I cease.
Go in peace."
Leave 5 seconds of silence at the end.End of poem. This recording is in the public domain.
Filename: emptyroom_bates_your initials in lowercase_128kb.mp3 (e.g. emptyroom_bates_klh_128kb.mp3)
Upload to the LibriVox Uploader: https://librivox.org/login/uploader
(If you have trouble reading the image above, please contact an admin)
MC to select: TriciaG
Copy and paste the file link generated by the uploader into a new post in this thread along with the file duration (mm:ss). Watch this thread for prooflistening notes.
When you post your link, please include your name as you would like it credited on the catalog page and any URL by which you would like it accompanied. (Note: This is only necessary if you have not done so for another project.)
Check back in a day or so for any feedback regarding your reading.
Deadline: Please submit your recording by 0600 GMT Sunday, January 2 (12:00 AM CST)
Please don't download or listen to files belonging to projects in process unless you are the BC or PL. Our servers are not set up to handle the greater volume of traffic. Please wait until the project has been completed. Thanks!
Magic Window:
BC Admin
Project Code: x2G7g3Ud
And remember, anyone can suggest a poem or coordinate an upcoming Fortnightly Poetry project! If you'd like to suggest a poem or coordinate a future project, please visit this thread.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask! Just post in this thread.
