Poetry Review: Orwellian Tale and Oenomel By Douglas G. Cala

By Ghia Vitale

Photo ​by Matt Proctor at KGB Bar NYC on 10/30/2023

Douglas G. Cala is a beat poet from Staten Island. His spoken word poetry brings the heat to Spotify with his single, Orwellian Tale, and EP, Oenomel. Keep reading to learn more about the hidden urban poetry gems you’ve yet to unearth for yourself.

If you’re interested in experiencing more beat poetry, check out Douglas G. Cala and his spoken word poetry. Hailing from Staten Island, Cala is known for his spoken word poetry and has performed at many readings throughout the New York City area. He recently performed and shared his spoken word poetry at the Jersey Shore Arts Center in Ocean Grove, New Jersey. He read alongside Jacob Moses, his longtime beat poet friend and collaborator. Before this 2024 reading, Cala released his single and his EP in 2023. Once you learn more about these spoken word releases, you’ll see what positively distinguishes them from other listening experiences.

Not only is the delivery of his poetry great, but I truly appreciate the accessibility of spoken word poetry’s availability on music platforms like Spotify. There was a time when you had to go to the city and attend a poetry reading in person to experience beat poetry. Now, anyone with Spotify can do it thanks to hip poets like Doug!

Orwellian Tale is a 2023 spoken word single by Cala. His conscientious, powerful poetry and dope dystopian beats drop thought bombs throughout the entirety of Orwellian Tale. Drawing inspiration from George Orwell’s 1984 and beat poetry, Cala’s voice is both an expression of techno dread and urban rebellion. Orwellian Tale evokes a sense of not only impending doom, but the grim realities affecting more and more people in the perilous, politically-corrupt present. I recommend it to anyone who wants to appreciate poetry inspired by George Orwell’s 1984 from an urban perspective.

Oenomel is Cala’s 2023 EP. This EP contains 5 spoken word tracks accompanied by music. The music vacillates between mood-setting ambient and good ol’ street beats. His call-to-action tone and beat critique perspective remain constant in this EP too. “Treatise of Time” pairs poetic reflections on the intertwinement of life and history with sick lo-fi beats. I’m a sucker for lo-fi music to study/sleep to, but now, I know beat poetry and lo-fi beats are a winning combination. “What Mythology Teaches” is a poem that uses Greek Mythology as a means of personal expression and societal critique. Cala also credits Comfort Cat and Ri Tornello with their help on this track. Also, as a witch who loves and works with Saturn, I am glad that Cala mentions Chronos in “Treatise of Time”. Chronos is also a god of death and time as well as Saturn’s Greek counterpart.

I appreciate that Doug G. Cala’s spoken word poetry is rich in thought, detail, and beast beats. His continual references to culture and history reflect their impact on our internal and external realities. I highly recommend that you listen to Orwellian Tale and Oenomel on Spotify. Follow Douglas G. Cala on Spotify and Instagram too for more updates.

Thank you for reading, cool cats!