Author: Jake Steele
Participants in Occidental’s Spoken Word Club’s first open mic night brought palpable emotion to the stage this past Tuesday, Oct. 4. Nine individuals took the stage, with performances ranging from poetry to rap to song. Their pieces focused on spectrums of love and the transformative effect time has on the evolution of feelings.
Co-President Maya Morales (sophomore) recited a poem on an ex-lover she cannot forget. “My memory of you clouds my memory of how to spell love/ L-I-A-R, my love,” she read. Co-President Sarah Winters (junior) also expressed unresolved feelings towards a past love affair. She reminisced about an economically poor but romantically rich lover she met in the cold Chicago winter whom she will always love.
Thuy Hua (junior) riffed on maternal love with a rendition of Tupac’s “Dear Momma” called “Dear my Asian Momma.” Like the original song, she showed that she truly appreciates her mother for overcoming hardships to provide a good life for her.
David Pino (sophomore), who refers to himself as “Young Peezy,” expressed feelings of antagonism in his poem “I still don’t like T.H.E.M. (Terrible and Horrible Energetic Monsters).”
The poem showed animosity toward the Occidental squirrels, highlighting their occasionally aggressive nature. When asked what provoked his hatred for the rodents, Pino said, “I saw one tear apart a lizard one time. It was ruthless.”
Greg Earnest (sophomore) addressed larger societal ills. He read a poem about the self-portrayal of African-Americans in the rap culture. “Money over bitches, you shouldn’t say that,” he recited. In the poem, he passed judgment on those who disrespect their own race simply to succeed in the music industry.
Everest Law (first-year) articulated his emotional experiences of college on a more direct and personal level. He read two poems that reflected his feelings on moving to Occidental and showed the transition of his attitudes, ending on an optimistic note. “I am making the time of my life,” he said.
Since poetry was the most popular form of expression at last Tuesday’s open mic, Winters hopes spoken word can continue to inspire and provoke students to share their thoughts. “There are not many poets on campus, and we need to encourage people to step out of their comfort zone,” Winters said.
Spoken Word Club’s goal is to have monthly open mic nights in the future, according to Winters and Morales. Although they have yet to announce specific dates for future open mic nights, they intend to organize more events like last Tuesday’s and commit to future nights of oratory artistic expression.
There will be a beginner’s slam on Oct. 21. Those who have never slammed before can get used to performing their material live in front of an audience. The subsequent November slam will determine who will be a part of the Occidental Spoken Word team. This team will go on to compete nationally in L.A. in April.
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