Cantab Recap for Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Wait just a minute: have we seen the last Wednesday of National Poetry Month already? Will we have to wait another eleven months for… Nah, check it, we’ve got Wednesdays fulla poetry every month around here. Last night, obviously, was no kind of exception, with the much-missed and well-traveled Ashley Davis swinging back into town to hold space for healing, spirituality, and guides of the spirit. Ashley, as always, navigated trauma and forgiveness with a deft and personal hand, leaving us shaking and more whole than before after her half hour on the stage.

The slam was a good time had by all, including veterans, first-timers, Cantab regulars and maybe a few over-the-river carpetbaggers come together to elevate each other’s work! The final one-minute round came down to Sam Rush vs. JR Mahung: despite burning an extra poem in an earlier tiebreaker round, JR took the big win and the ten bucks, as well as the final spot in next week’s Champion of Champions slam.

Oh, and yes, next week: the poetry doesn’t stop with April, and, just to prove it, we’ve got a remarkable triple-header event for you! First, Kieran Collier will present an early-bird generative poetry workshop on grief, joy, memory, and honest: you can sign up in advance or just show up on time (around 5:30) in the space. Then, once our open mic has warmed the room, Kieran will present his first feature on the Cantab stage! Our night will close with the much-anticipated speed-slam-style Champion of Champions match, where Brandon Melendez will have a chance to defend his title (and the $100 prize) against the spring’s eight finest challengers. See you there!