I Love My Event Pass

The Line

Cambridge MA - Today with a few hundred other slam enthusiasts lined up outside the Cantab Lounge to wait my turn to witness the best slam poetry in America and maybe the world, and I was not disappointed.  Though the Cantab is not a large venue and I waited for two hours for my turn, it was well worth the wait.  

While we stood in line, poets from all over the United States and beyond performed for us on the sidewalk while passersby had mixed reactions.  I got into a conversation with Jerry Bushnell, 27, a writer and entrepreneur looking to start a poetry reading in the cafe where he works in Marlborough.  During the conversation, he said an astounding thing.  “Poetry is selfish in the most unselfish way.”  I could only nod and smile.  

Once inside, I and four other random people were selected as judges.  The example poet who read first to set the standard for the bout set the bar high, I thought, which boosted the scores I gave.  All four teams made an excellent showing.  Two of the poems actually made me cry - and not just because I had been on my feet for three straight hours.  

I’ll not share the results here, but will leave that to the folks at NPS2011 to share when they see fit.  They are doing an excellent job of hosting an amazing event.