Haitian Beatz

Similes. Metaphors. Alliteration. Analogies and a variety of other figures of speech are what you were blessed with at the Poetry Slam and Open Mic on Thursday, February 12, 2009 at Solomon’s Porch located on 307 Stuyvesant Avenue in Brooklyn, NY, hosted by Mohogany L. Browne. With the night dedicated to erotica in reverence of Valentine’s Day arrival that coming weekend, it was truly a night to remember.

There were three slam poets that graced the stage, Eboni, who can be described as the poetic hybrid of the rapper Twister and the late poet/rapper Tupac Shakur with her quick wit, perfectly strung phrases and her delivery that would leave you breathless and gasping for air if you attempted to match her spitting speed.  You had Tongo, the only male slammer, a poetic giant who towers over you as he showers you with his raw but real vernacular. Lastly there was Narubi Selah, who not only spoke her words, but also sang these sweet melodies that left your soul in this dance and rhythm that you didn’t want to end. Each champions of their art in their own right, Narubi Selah was crowned the victor in last night’s slam with her harmonious melodies of verse.

During the brief intermission, we grooved to the sounds of the T.A.P. DJ’s who helped to make the transition from the experienced slammers to the novices who were stepping up to the mic to continue to blow us away with nothing but the power of their words.

As an avid poetry lover, I found the open mic portion of the night to be the most exciting. I am always open to the experience of deciphering the spoken words of a poet, that is meant to get my mind racing and heart thumping as I formulate my own interpretation of his or her spoken words. While the slammers are the opening acts, the regular Joes and Janes who decide to step to the mic are the ones who give us, the audience, that confidence that maybe we too can do it.

After hearing the words of Marilyn, describing a one-sided desire and Radhiyah’s inspirational comparison of the Black man and our new president, I took a chance of having someone else come into the deep recesses of my mind and heart and read a poem of knowing when to let go. It was an experience I shan’t soon forget as I scrolled the track wheel of my blackberry down to provide the words that I couldn’t believe were emanating from my mouth to reach the audience. If I ever take the chance to do this again still remains to be seen, but the experience was nonetheless a positive one.

Next in the line up was Kisha, who detailed a night of self-satisfaction and gratification, while Sonya brought us back to the days of sweet love. Sista brought the crowd to a climax of laughter with her “…in the front, in the front…” piece that had us all participating with the chorus of her humorous piece. Lastly, the person who conceived of this night gave us the most raw and explicit poem that had heads reeling as we rapped up the show.

My words are meant to be nothing more than a glimpse into what that night held in the memory of a sole person. It was a beautiful night, but don’t just take my word for it. Come and join us at Solomon’s Porch every second Thursday of the month and see…better yet feel for yourself!

Click here for more pictures