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10/19/2003 Entry: "voices for the voiceless"

The voiceless show on Friday was a ridiculously long but probably one of the best times I have had on stage. The line up in order of how I remember the order to be was: Crystal Senter Brown did a few personal poems, then Talaam AC went up and applied his trade, La Bruja went up next and did this hilarious set of poems tied together like a comedy routine then finished it off with a political piece about Bush, Jiles Li went last in the first set and delivered a really well written set of political poems that I really enjoyed. Then Quang Bao from The Asian American Writers Workshop gave a very funny acceptance speech for the Louis Reyes Rivera Lifetime achievement award, he even raised the roof. I was first to go in the second set of poems and have to tell you that the capacity crowd of about 250 was so responsive that I did my poems much slower than normal. I did "mind of a dreamer" first then I went into my "0-13" poems they seemed to be ok with that,I got the six minute sign from Shaggy who was on top of everyone's time. I followed with the God/Devil poems and got a distressed "ohhh" for the one that asserts that religions are full of shit-paraphrasing, and last I did "peligro" which got a really good response. Maybe it was my wanting to go slow or the response time from the crowd but somehow four poems took 14:39 as I was scolded for by Guy. Queen Sheeba went after me. She told me that she remembers me, and me beating her in the slam at BAR 13 made her hate funny poets. Don't I feel special. After her Shappy went up and did a hilarious set including the Jesus Queereye makeover poem which is "butgusting"- Queen Sheeba's slip but I think thats the perfect word for something that funny. After Shappy Fish and Helen did a short set each as a replacement for Teyimbha which was really cool of Jason and Shaggy. They did great six minute sets, Fish performing to his biggest crowd ever, and Helen doing a great 9-11 poem. There was a break after the second set and so many people were buying product, and coming up to the poet table. Third set was started off by Dennis Kim. He did a fantastic set of poems including this great poem about his baby son. Crystal Lee Endsley went after wards and did a very emotional set even if it was a bit preachy, her heart is in the right place. This is where Guy went in the line up. He did a great ernest set, I love his stuff. I think Shaggy did a set of poems after Guy. Its getting hard to remember the exact order, so lets just say he went here. He did his thing and changed the ending to a poem that I didn't like before, but I do now. After that Danny Solis did a great set including the funny poem that I like about building a fire. It was getting late by this point and it was taking its toll, but there were only a few more poets. Kevin Koval went second to last and did a set that I really liked. Then Bonafide went last. I really like his Rojas piece and I took some pictures for him with his camera. After the show we went to a Denny's in Holyoke at like two in the morning. The best thing that happened to me that night and maybe the best thing that has ever happened to me at a performance is that Crystal Senter Browns son asked her to meet me. He is a ten year old boy who liked my poetry, especially "peligro". He told me that he goes to catholic school too and he is also the only brown kid in the school. We talked about how rough it is and I told him that it would be ok. I have never reached to someone that way, I felt like I was talking to myself as a boy. It was a fantastic time and I am happy that I was able to do it again this year. I want to say thank you to Jason, and Shaggy and Ron "a true filatino", and all the people that went up to me after the show and during the break. be dee be dee be dee that's all folks.

Replies: 1 Comment

"Scolded" by me? Psshaw! At least your bio didn't add another 3 minutes to your performance! ;-)

BTW, you were very much on fire up there. Comfortable and confident in a way I've never seen you. Kudos!

Posted by Guy LeCharles Gonzalez @ 10/21/2003 09:31 AM EST