Slam

Here's Robin, last Saturday night, at the 11th annual poetry slam in San Francisco. 3,200 people, the largest Slam audience in local history, packed the Masonic Hall on Nob Hill. The youngest competitor was 15, the oldest 19. From all over the Bay area.

Lots of "poems" about race. Also: incest, rape, abortion, homosexuality, body issues, relatioinships, murder/guns/gangs, etc. i.e. serious teens. Very enthusiastic crowd helped by and excelent MC and DJ (great hip hop music filled in every gap). Extrememly upbeat and supportive, often funny.

Robin won the SF Slam last week and got into the final round but didn't win. I found it very emotional as Robin rarely invites me to anything he does. I didn't even make his guest list and had to buy a ticket (which is cool, I can afford it more than his friends).

Robin's poems were less personal than most. (Which is probably a big reason why he didn't win) but his language was excellent and his delivery (machine gun) exciting.

Good job, son! Good job.