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Lemon dropsBROOKLYN POET SHARES STAGE WITH NEW GENERATION OF VERSE-SMITHS DEF POETRY JAM
By Ted Mills Every time spoken word artist Lemon sees a stereotypical poetry reading - hipster café, stock-still author, ringed binder in hand, monotone delivery - he winces. "I just realize that they've made my job harder. Because that's most people's idea of live poetry. And I have to convince people that it's not." Def Poetry Jam sets out to demonstrate Lemon's mission to UCSB Campbell Hall's denizens Tuesday night. This young, East Coast poet is part of the multiethnic nine-member cast, none of whom have any time for wandering lonely as a cloud. They're here to get the crowd moving in its hearts and seats. They're here to declare, to challenge and to throw down. The cast includes Philly native Black Ice, Palestinian-American Suheir Hammad and Korean-American Ishle Park (named Poet Laureate of Queens in 2004), among others.
None of these nine comes from the world of poetry workshops and upstate retreats - they were schooled in the hothouses of the poetry slam culture, where the word's primary outlet is the live competition. All have done their time at the legendary Nuyorican Poets Café in Manhattan, sharpening their acts.
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CAROL ROSEGG PHOTOS
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