Cherry Natural in performance at the Natural Mystic Concert in honour of Bob Marley's 60th birthday, held on Knutsford Boulevard, New Kingston on Sunday February 6, 2005. Cherry Natural is the host of poerty show, Per Verse. - WINSTON SILL / FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
ONE OF the unwritten rules which steer Jamaica, for better or worse, is that when it rains everything crash - or at best locks up in a house with dreams of a hot cup of chocolate.
So it was a little surprising when a quick check with Cherry Natural, one of the organisers of Per Verse, confirmed that the regular Tuesday night event was still being held.
Despite the information, it was still a little surprising to actually hear music playing at the venue, upon arrival. It was assumed that as the sky continued to leak rain, they would get the message.
Apparently, only half the message arrived. It was finally decided that the original show, dubbed 'Unearthing Vibrant Voices', would be postponed until next week and instead they would have only the open mic segment of the show.
UNDER THE PATIO
So it was that the voices for the night mainly came from Texas, or other parts of the United States via Texas, who took turns at the microphone. They, along with the organisers, and a few others had gathered by the Weekenz Wall of Fame under the patio.
The first of the group of poets up was Deep Blue See, who later explained that his name was a reflection of his voice, his favourite colour and his artistic medium, respectively.
He began with Sexy which detailed his vision of sexiness which ranged from 'porn star abstaining' to a 'ballerina break dancing'.
'MOON WALKER'
In celebration of Michael Jackson's acquittal, Deep Blue See intended to perform the poem Moon Walker. Unfortunately, he could not find it.
As such, DJ Joe B took his first turn at the microphone. He began with All Day Work Play before scatting across to A-Z which he described as a "totally hip hop poem."
Indeed, his poetry quite reflected his hip hop aesthetics as many of the poems were borderline (sometimes actually crossing) raps. On his second trip to the microphone he delivered Poster Girl of My Private World which he revealed was the poem that allowed him to realise he could "transform positive words on paper".
Deep Blue See also returned to the microphone, but it was not until his third time, and with much encouragement from the audience that he finally delivered Moon Walker.
The poet explained that he was a staunch supporter of Jackson and so the reading would be timely. The poem painted Jackson as he moved from superstardom when "everybody wanna walk like Mike" to super-caricaturedom when people "sure don't wanna look like Mike".
He critiqued the nature of superstardom and Jackson's public lynching by the media, noting that it is the way many icons are treated, only revered in death.
Steven, a self-proclaimed beatnik who claimed to be on the island seeking a future ex-wife, also delivered, including It Doesn't Mean A Thing and a piece he wrote 15 minutes before at the bar.
'TELL ME AGAIN'
Christina rounded up the group of Texans delivering Tell Me Again and Tonight I Made Him Wait.
There were also a few Jamaican voices in the venue, among them being Devon Thompson and Tunami. Manda, a South African who has been living in Jamaica for five years, also delivered some delightful pieces ranging from the pointless nature to modern living to love.
Tanya Batson-Savage
