Review of Jive poetic

Bla bla bla @ the bowery poetry club

By Mariel Cutler

Jive Poetic is a poet quiet worth mentioning. He has the ability to captivate the young, the old and, for that part, all people no matter what walk of life they are coming from. He has won many slams including being part of the 2002 NYC slam championship team. This is easy to see in his presences, even before his lips touch the mic he is giving good vibes and sets the mood right for everyone around him.

            At the open mic and feature event on April, 17, 2008 titled Bla Bla Bla he was one of four featured poets. Although to most there his name was the least notable or recognized most would argue his poetry stood next to the other poets just fine. Standing next to him before his turn on stage came he was composed and giving full attention to the other poets, proving that his complex has not gotten ahead of him like so many grand slam poets have. Once on stage he had my full attention through all four of his poems. His subject matter flexed from ecological food contamination/ corruption, to youth suicide and sex. A poem titled “grapes” is a play on how scary the idea of a fruit (a seed baring flower) can have no seeds through genetic modification or some would call alteration. This poem had the whole ground laughing sighing and bucking (this is all showing the poet appreciation).            

            The show came to an end right on time for the DJ to spin some cuts for the excited crowd to move to. I took this time to talk to Jive about getting some of his work and found all my expectations of his to be proven true. He was far from intimidating in fact was quiet welcoming and made sure I was buying what I wanted (the grapes poem…). Jive then proceed to have a small conversation with me and gave me wonderful advice for seeing more good poetry in NYC. The entire experience was wonderful and this is all thanks to Jive and his poetics.