About a Poets Bout

(Just a mere few inches of clearance)

My new myspace friend is named Knowledge. He wrote me because he likes Marvel comics, too, and probably because he searched "Vegas & poem" and found that little diddy I wrote when pissed. See here. "A Series of Undisposable Posts"

Guess who was on the elevator with us? Knowledge and his girlfriend (?) Tiana Marie. Cool! Knowledge is a slender, handsome black man with a goatee and a brown beret-like hat. Very friendly, we hugged soon after introduced. He has a slight hint of Britain in his speech that gets ever more accented as he gets excited. Tiana Marie is a large, voluptuous blond with smoky eyes that sparkle with her outfit. We meet, greet and discuss the upcoming events. I inform Knowledge that Sue is the poetess between the two of us and he asks if she'll be reciting her poem and is excited to know that she has them memorized.

Let me interject....myself.... both Sue and I have no idea what to expect. The closest I've ever come to seeing live poetry is "I Married An Axe Murderer," and it's nothing like what we actually experienced by nights end.

Sue is unfazed by the fact that she has to recite her poems from memory. We, of the Temple, are masters at memorization wouldn't ya know... well, we are now, anyway. She assures Knowledge that by shows start, she'll be ready. Of course her poem is only 15-20 lines long. Pshaw... no biggie!

Upon arrival at Chinois, the doorman has no idea about any "Poetry Reading" so we wait while he calls. Sue and I had arrived really early so we had to wait an hour before everything got started. People started filtering in very slowly and took various positions around the small venue. A black and white painting of a reclining nude adorns the front wall that is also filled with seats. A small, unopened bar sits just off its flank. Sue and I chose to sit in the second row on the the most stylish, yet uncomfortable of couches. A small copper colored metal coffee table holds our purses and the like.



As the room fills we hear a few in the corner practicing their poetry for one another and Sue turns to me and says, "I feel a little outclassed."

Again, I say "Pshaw! Once they hear your poem, you'll have nothing to worry about."She recites to me the other poem she has written. She asks if it might be too deep. I look around at the collected handful of patrons. I agree. Tiana Marie makes her first round with the poet's registration sheet and to collect the cover charge from non-poets (That be me!) and Sue and I are both surprised that if you are one of the mighty fine brave you don't have to pay. Huzzah! Sue's nervousness grows exponentially after writing her name. She's committed now.

They dim the lights and small spotlights swirl red rosettes around the room, too pretty, while Knowledge calls for all the poets to go sit under the big giant naked lady painted on the front wall. The name of the event is called "Testosterone vs. Estrogen" so Knowledge has the boys sitting on one side (7) and the girls sitting on the other (3). Of the ten sitting on stage, Sue is the only white girl and sticks out like a sore thumb. I can feel the nervousness exuding from her pores from across the room.

Knowledge warms up the crowd with a poem written for the flowering of spoken poet artists (too sweet) and then the night begins. The host is adorable, funny, and able to fill the dead time with his "Tetris on mushrooms" pants. Tiana Marie goes next, followed by a male virgin poet and so on. Scores are bellowed out from the judges after each performance and Knowledge gives an update of either the scores or the leaders.

The poetry being recited is angry, provocative, mellow, observational, questioning, and most important of all, long. Each poem is at least 10-30 stanzas long. I think Sue's is five. I start to worry. And then suddenly, its her turn. I clap loudly to try and make her feel better and she mumbles that this is her first time ever speaking her poetry out loud, let alone in front of anyone. She closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, and begins. Her voice is sultry. Her eyes flutter from closed to half open. She punctuates and de-emphasizes and her head tilts sexily. And then she's done. I can feel the relief wash over her. Sue broke the 9 score mark for the night with a 9.1 from one of the judges. The remainder of the crowd seemed to be squeezing their legs together. Very sexy. Everyone claps hard. I hoot and howl, because that's what friends do. My shoulders un-tense for the night as well.


The remainder of the evening, Sue must sit at the front but she doesn't perform again. I can see the gears turning behind her eyes as the poets recite their art. She's preparing for a return performance. I finally realize that the bar outside the room is open so at a point not so conspicuous I get us a couple of Jacks. Sue downs hers quickly. As the night comes to a close, the four female poets win the night by a mere 1.7 points or somesuch. Knowledge comes around and gives Sue $15 for being on the winning girls team. Whoo hoo! I'm driving so I make Sue finish my drink.

As we leave, again, ever so slowly, Sue and I are excitedly talking about returning next Wednesday. Knowledge exclaims if she wants to come back they'll post her picture and profile on the myspace website. Sue called me Thursday with a new poem filled with her own angst. Maybe we'll see you there this time.
What an adventure!

*Update: Much has changed in a year. Sue no longer particpates with Knowledge at the poetry nightclub due to the differences they have in their views on homosexuality. Sue currently performs pretty regularly at Rejavanate, located at Pecos and Flamingo on Tuesday nights. Most nights I attend as well. This february 10, 2009, Sue will be featuring. Hope to see you there!