The Concordian

Media Credit: Steven Wilder Davis Slam poets Rafael Casal (left) and Jon Goode (right) expressed their insights, observations, and personal issues by using a fast-paced and rhythmic form of performance poetry at Subway last Monday [Click to enlarge]

All the guys in Subway last Monday picked up some useful tips when Jon Goode took the stage to perform his own brand of slam poetry.

“I always tell the ladies that Valentine’s Day is actually on February 16th,” he said, “because that’s when you can get three pounds of candy and two dozen roses for one third of the cost.”

“I’m like the TJ Max of love,” he laughed.

Alongside Rafael Casal, the two entertained crowd of roughly 40 with their own style of slam poetry.

Slam poetry is a fast-paced, highly rhythmic, socially conscience, often personal, and sometimes humorous brand of performance poetry. It is known to have a very urban feel to it and usually describes personal or social circumstances in urban American. The HBO series “Russel Simon’s Def Poetry Jam” is usually recognized as the show that brought national attention and popularity to slam poetry.

Both performers gave entertaining and distinct shows to the audience that evening, with each poet having varying focuses and history.

Jon Goode, originally from Richmond but currently living in Atlanta, took the stage first and focused much of his energy and rhetoric around the conditions of blacks in America, social issues and injustices, as well as his personal history. His poem “Pop Loved Scotch” revealed much about his own discontent for his father.

“Pop hates this one,” he told the crowd.

Casal, originally from Oakland but now living in Wiscon, performed poems that were largely centered around relationships and women.

“Boys don’t cry,” he said, “but men do”.

Casal and Goode aside, my only real complaint about slam poetry generally is that sometimes it seems to forsake the real content and power of the message in order to keep a strong and fast-paced rhythm. Casal and Goode gave some incredible insights into relationships, politics, family life, and problems in America and elsewhere, but I couldn’t help but think that their insights would’ve had more potential in a motivational speech rather than a slam poetry performance. Slam poetry and motivational speaking share many of the same elements like powerful tones and vocal variations.

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