THE POETRY competition at the Weekendz Bar and Bistro, Constant Spring Road, St. Andrew, is back for its summer session, but a lot has changed. The competition started again last week Tuesday and is expected to go on for an additional four weeks.
One of the major changes that occurred is the name. The first instalment began in February and lasted over nine weeks, under the title 'Poets Rush Di Mic'. This time around, the competition is being dubbed 'Voice Poetry Jam: The Spoken Word in Action'.
Another element which has changed is the judging system. According to organiser Connie Bell, the competition now models the early slam competitions, where the winner is decided by the audience rather than judges.
CONTACT SPORT OF POETRY
Slam poetry competitions originated in the United States, and have been described by one slam poet as the contact sport of poetry. Those familiar with Def Poetry Jam have an inkling of the kind of poetry featured in slam competitions and of many of the poets who have appeared on the Russell Simmons' HBO series.
As such, at the end of the night's competition the contestants are called to the stage and the audience is asked to scream their support. Based on the scream levels, the winner is picked.
Tuesday night's competition saw Omaro Mazlyn going home the night's winner. Mazlyn performed 'Johnny', a moving piece about a boy shot in his bed. Mazlyn, an competent drummer, also played the jembe as a part of his poetry.
During his performance he had great crowd support and soon became the evening's darling in an impromptu performance. At the end of Mazlyn's performance, Mutabaruka, the evening's disc jock, selected a poem from the last competition, 'Unfolding Truths', by Christopher Gordon.
Both young men are a part of the Kingston College drama group Nomadz and the poem was used as their dub poetry ensemble entry in the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) speech competition. Upon hearing the poem, Mazlyn came back to the stage and proceeded to perform in tune with the recording.
He would later return to compete with Mutabaruka's selections, keeping the beat on his jembe. The package was a welcome addition to the night's performances.
OTHER POETS
Two other poets found much favour with the audience. Kashka Hemans performed two pieces, 'Hush and Fo Hush' and 'Coast'. The first piece was a satire on the travesty that can be made of popular poems when they are tortured through overacting in the JCDC competition. He pre-empted the piece by asking whether hell for a poet was being forced to listen to over-acting contestants performing one's poetry into forever.
Nicole Lindo had also found favour with the audience. Lindo performed 'Catharsis', a poem about being broken-hearted. Although it contained much venom, it lacked lyrical bite.
The competition's prizes have also changed. Bell explained that they are currently attempting to engage sponsorship so that they can explore all the possibilities. She noted that to date, sponsors that have come on board offer kind, rather than cash. Red Stripe Light, which donates the weekly prize, is one such sponsor.
The night is also attempting to expand beyond poetry as an example of the spoken word. Included in the guest performances was a reading of a one-act play by Karl Williams. The piece was delivered by Williams and Jerry Benzwick, and was fondly greeted by much of the audience.
However, the use of corded microphones will offer something of a challenge for dramatic performances. Bell pointed out that she is willing to explore this side of the spoken word, to add variety to the evening and give other writers a chance to air their work.
