Irony and sushi

So Thursday I did something I had not done in nearly two years, participate in an open slam. I knew that Omar and Cristin were also going to slam so it eased the transition back for me a bit. I was in it just for fun so I thought I'd try something new. I wrote the piece the same day and finished it as the person before me was on. It was a great night although I think the crowd was a bit confused.

Cristin did a very cute poem about her high school science teacher but since she went first it didn't go over with high scores. I was on fifth and the four poets before me did funny poems, including one about an abusive racist bunsen burner and hemorrhoids. They were hilarious, but pushed the boundaries and were punished for it. Then I did my poem. I went too far. I probably should have gone much further with it to expose the sarcasm or delivered it more sarcastically to give the audience a clue as to the irony in the content. Although I thought it was obvious, Omar and everyone else later told me that I didn't give any clues as to my sarcastic intentions, so I just came off as an ass. My poem was about being pro- global warming and pro destruction of the planet, and as an example of being pro-planetary annihilation I said that hurricanes are great because they make for great surfing. I even went so far as to say, and this is where the audience turned, that Hurricane Katrina was a good thing because it will make more room for new Walmarts andTrent Lott's new Porch. Of course I meant it as sarcastic but it didn't translate. The entire audience was silent except for an occasional laugh from Cristin who knew what I was trying to do. I must say that that kind of disquiet in an audience is powerful, although I did not enjoy that kind of power, I do recognize it as being power. I did not change my tactic once I realized what was going on, I wanted to see what would happen if I saw it through to the end without letting on that it was supposed to be sarcasm. I didn't apologize or explain to the audience, I just got off and waited.

I knew it was going to be bad, but the scores were even better than I thought. I got a .2, 1, 1, 1, 4.2, giving me a total cumulative score of 3. I was laughing so much. I totally ruined the stage for Omar. He had to go after me but he couldn't overcome the confused mess I had left behind. I had such a blast doing something totally different than what I usually do. I will probably try to slam every week if I can.

Afterwards Jeannie, Omar, Oscar and I went to Sushi Park for half-price sushi and argued about what I could have done differently. I agree with them now, although of course I didn't then.