First Slam
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“Frank, are you ready?”
“Yes.”
“Give it up for Frank!”
Applause. Kelly yells, “alright, Frank!”
I walk up the aisle to the stage. Face the audience of fellow poets and slammers; six judges; Bill, his wife, Jan, and Mira. Rachel and Tiff attend the admission table, shadowed by the stage lights behind me. I begin:
“Memorial Stone.”
I read the haibun, look out to the back, shape the stone with my hand. I glance down at the sheets, then back up. Articulate. Annunciate. Finish.
I walk off to applause, and Kelly’s revving up the crowd. All so I can earn mediocre scores
empty glass …
her head on my shoulder
as another reads
Photo by Mark Williams
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