GLEN LAUGHTON became the tenth finalist in the Root Cause poetry competition last Tuesday night. The competition takes place at the Weekendz Bar and Bistro on Constant Spring Road, St. Andrew each Tuesday and will culminate tomorrow in what is expected to be wonderful display of lyrical dexterity.
Tomorrow's event will see 11 poets rushing the microphone in the attempt to win the grand prize of $50,000.00. The number of finalists reached the ungainly figure of 11 for two reasons. First was a tie between Christopher Gordon and Simone Bryan. Additionally, as the runner-up usually makes it to the next week's competition, last week's runner-up, Miguel 'Steppa' Williams, will also join the grand finalists.
Laughton cemented his win with a poem which celebrated the nature of the competition. It was a raunchy treatise, Document For Piece, which won him the night's victory. However, his celebratory piece, Rush invites all poets to 'rush the mic' in much the same way that Root Cause attempts to.
Steppa took a clearly political stance for his victory poem O Almighty One. This too celebrates what Root Cause attempts to encourage, that is speaking out in poetry. Earlier he had won his place as the final runner-up with The Finance.
Several of the other performers for the night had also given a good showing. Among these was Omal Wright, who performed two impressive pieces. He may have fared better, however, had he made his introductory piece his competitive one.
Although she was not the night's winner, Tiffany Edwards' work is worth looking out for. She brought an impressive jazz and blues rhythm to the night with her poem The Zebra Room, Lennox Lounge which was a tribute to the women of jazz. Edwars' competitive piece, which dealt with the tragic position of the Afghanistan woman, was also impressive.
Vincent Richards brought side-splitting laughter with his competitive piece Ooman Mi Love Yuh. The poem was a hilarious rendition of the fervent passionate courtship of a woman who looks like a combination of a Mercedes Benz and Cadillac Escalade and other 'top end' cars. Her would-be lover threatens to attach himself to her like a leech in an attempt to be an omnipresent bodyguard. The poem had the audience, especially the women, rolling with laughter.
Richard's introductory piece, Scorch Dem, had easily got the audience's attention as he attempted to call down brimstone and fire on all heathens in a voice which burnt its way through ear drums on its way to the heavens.
The night's guest performers were poet Gina Rey Forrest and later, the band Roots Underground Movement. The band performed a series of their original works, which showed that they have great vocal and musical potential should they choose to make their way above ground.
Lead singer Stephen Newland has an impressive wailing voice, which though it may get him confused with Bob Marley, should easily set him apart from the pack. The rest of the band features Connie Bell back-up vocals, Colin Young bass, Charles Lazarus guitar and Beacher drums. The night's performance also featured Gregory Atkin as a guest singer.
