'The holy miraculous difference between firstrate & second implies nonthinkable enormousness by contrast with the tiny stumble from second to tenthrate.' - e.e. cummings.
Aye Eddy, whatever you say son!
The inaugural ThisCollection FRIENDLY POETRY SLAM has been and gone. It was a great success, with consistent quality and entertainment, from a controlled crowd of temporary human beings and poets. It took place in the dark cavernous downstairs bar at The Banshee Labyrinth. It was hosted by the miraculous, relentless labourer of poetry Claire Askew.
1st place went to Young Dawkings: A quality controlled performance of orange juice compact passion. By that I mean, Dawkin's performance contained with the same 'juice' (energy/nuritional value in poetic terms) as a ripe orange. He was sincere, empassioned and caused the hair on my neck to stand on end.
2nd place went to Stephen Welsh: This was his first poetry slam and, I think, his first public reading. He was polished, confident, thoughtful, and gave us a poetic-lecture of the complexity and mystery of the universe.
3rd place went to Chris Lindores: A beardy man of quick wit and self-deprecating humour, and enough dirty realism to undermine the pretense of the far-too-serious of the night.
All three got money and booze and self-satisfaction, and what more deserved than that, on this shorttimespent-planet-earth! Well done to them.
Question: what's the difference between SLAM and a poetry reading? Anwser: SLAM (in this case) is COMPETITIVE, but poetry reading is not. SLAM involves score sheets, ten point scales of content form and delivery. It involves arithmetic/calculators. Time keeping. Stop watches. Shouting, reading, self-doubt, an excess of passion and microphone reverberation. It involves financial incentive and booze promise.
All in all, it was a quality night, and the three winners now get to go to St Andrews and read at an experimental poetry night. So, good luck on that wee poetry galivant. I think there may be more this collection SLAM nights to come. I hope so. Let there be mic!
End note: I came a tight, but not tight enough, 4th which astounded and encouraged me, like a child on stabilisers cycling for the tenth time and not worrying that you'll fall over.
9 comments:
McGuire, you legend! Thanks for this, it's a brilliant sum-up of the night. EXCEPT you forgot to mention that you came a VERY CLOSE FOURTH! And may I say, when I had to read out that you had not made it to the final, it felt like kicking a puppy -- the look of hope on your lovely other half's face was just too much to bear, and he looked crushed when I announced the result!! But you should be very very very pleased with yourself sir -- 4th in such company is one hell of an achievement. You'd've been in my final had it been up to me. Loved the revised 'white' poem. You rock. xxx
Claire, you are too kind, I thank yee open-arm-ed-ly. Myshak (my man) will be surprised to hear your words, I'll tell him.
I am very very surprised and pleased. I managed to come up to fourth position. I was almost certain I was coming up 9th or 8th etc. etc.
It was great success, and has encouraged me even more to keep on keeping on. And it was pretty high calibre contest as well.
Keep up the good work. You rock, volcanic and fiery soul!
It would seem that I have missed a grand night out.
What does orange juice compact passion mean?!
Jimmy - You did that.
Dorky - Dawkin's performance contained with the same 'juice' (energy/nuritional value in poetic terms) as a ripe orange. I know, I know, me and my terrible metaphors.
Glad to hear from you both.
;)
You must have balls of steel to stand up and do that - I can't even summon the courage to do a reading! You know what they say about coming fourth though; you'll never come fourth again! (It's true - my daughter came fourth in a swim comp last year and was so gutted, she won the lot this year!)
Congratulations!
Competitive poetry!? - yikes.
McGuire, yer a fucking star. Cheers for the lovely write-up!
Also, dead chuffed I found the poem entitled 'Self-Esteem' on here. Did it have a different title when you read it?
Hey Chris,
Glad you read this.
The poem is called 'Self-Esteem' but I called it 'Capable of Better' on the night. 'Self-Esteem' is much better.
Hope to see you about again soon!
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