Themes run from mid-America to inner city. Relationship material punches up the applause meter, and sex is always a winner. Although at times they speak in sentences run together like an e-mail address, their poetry is precise, the pauses timely. The poets don't start out slowly. Belly laughs rack the near capacity crowd.
Competitors sway in rhythm.
A spiritual-gospel chant floats from the hood drawn close round his face. The next time, the congregation recites in unison. Aaron, returned from an interview with ABC News, is still pumped. He had come prepared. They were much more prepared than I was.