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« on: August 12, 2004, 12:15:18 PM »
So, I posted this on the Yahoo Group, but here it is for anyone that doesn't cross over. 2004 St. Louis was my first NPS, but certainly not my only one. There was shit, no doubt. A pack of frat-boys called me a faggot, ostencably because I was wearing a 'cowboy hat' (it was a fedora... if there's one thing I disapprove of more than a group of homophobes, it's a group of homophobes without a fasion sense among them). Nonetheless, here's some of the good;
To list everyone who made my first trip to a National Poetry Slam incomparably fantastically stupendous would be insane, and would take all night. I don't have that kind of time. So, I'll keep it short-
Billy from Chicago Wicker Park, who was the first poet to introduce himself to me, and hence the one who taught me the standard format for NPS introductions; "Hi, I'm (insert name) from (insert team)." Thanks.
Lexington and K'zoo for opening their hotel rooms up to mad poets all night. Definitely a highlight.
Kenyatta, for a few fantastic conversations on the bench in front of the Hampton.
Eliel from New York, the hitchhikers from Hawaii, Natawn from OK, and all of the other non-competing/unaffiliated poets who came simply to support. Damn, you people rock it hard.
Also Natawn for representing the underage poets and getting the organizers to kick down free passes to finals for all y'all.
Also Eliel for kicking down a Dominican stogie. Yummmm!
Dallas, for making me laugh the most (vagina poem).
Corina Bain for making me cry the most (open letter to the moon).
Team Palo Alto, for general ass kickingness.
Gipsy Collins, Storm Poet extraordinaire, for going off for almost an hour in
the basement
part of the hotel, causing me to almost crap my pants laughing.
All the California teams, for representing the West Coast scenes unfailingly and getting right behind your poets regardless of team affiliation.
Delrica, for telling me she was going to forget my name, forgetting it, and
forgetting that she had told me she would forget. I'll bet you've forgotten all about this by now. (Note; Delrica has not forgotten. She told me so :wink:)
Team Spiral Bound, for further general ass kickingness, especially Brent for reminding me why it's important to sometimes throw down a buck into a barista's tip cup.
Everyone else who I met, didn't see at all, or wished I could have met, keep rockin out and I'll see you next year.
Samuel,
Eugene/PDX OR
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