Southern Fried Poetry Festival Recap

peace and blessings,


so yea, this post is way late....but here it is...

The weekend of June 6-10, i attended Southern Fried Poetry Slam held in Columbia,SC. Beautiful South Carolina where the Confederate Flag flies in front of the capitol building. yep, the Confederate Flag FLIES in front of the CAPITOL BUILDING!!! so, many people have tried to destroy the flag since it was removed from the TOP of the capitol building that there is now an armed guard posted by the flag 24 hours a day.

dont wanna bore you with ALL the detail but will give you some quick highlights:

the good:

1. i got to MC two bouts AND co-hosted the finals.
2. hosting the "newbie" slam with my mentor/big brother/friend Chris Imperial aka Big Daddy Black Juice.
3. the 3 am cypher in the weight room of the hotel
4. poets putting ego's aside to assist in finding judges for the Saturday bouts.
5. sharing the stage with three other great indie poets as team.
6. the road trip with Buffy from Charlotte to Columbia was great...an hour an a half of music and laughter.
7. Tranquility a veggie bar in the front an open mic area in the back. they saved the slam when other venues flaked on us!
8. watching the youth poets ROCK some hot ass pieces!
9. seeing Respect the Mic (Charlotte's Other team) and Ali take Southern Fried team and indie titles.
10. seeing myself on the program for Southern Fried
11. watching my STL Slam teammate Surreal Sista on the indies final stage.
12. painting my finger nails black....everyone liked it!

the beautiful:

1. the powers that be trusted me enough to let me MC two bouts.
2. another more experienced poet suggested to the powers that be, that i co-host the finals.
3. Feeling that Southern Fried was truly a family affair!


the bad:

1. finding judges for so many bouts during Southern Fried.
2. Venues that couldnt make up their minds if they wanted us there.
3. i didnt get a chance to hear some of my favorite poets perform.
4. the six hour layover in Knoxville,Tn on the way home.
5. the four hour layover in Nashville,Tn on the way home.
6. getting sick after returning from Southern Fried.
7. sittin next to the just released convicts on the way home.
8. the fourteen hour bus ride there
9. the loooooong as bus ride back home.
10. having to come back to the REAL world.


this was only my third Southern Fried but being around my Southern Fried Poetry family and feeling the love makes each long bus ride worth it. the words, the poets, the energy and the fun is the reason why i keep returning. yea, the is a closer regional slam but my HOME and HEART is with Southern Fried and all those that attend. its a great thing and i will always attend as long as im able. its more than a poetry event, its a family reunion.


onelove,
Copa