If there's one thing this year's poetry slam team has aside from talent, it's testosterone. The four-man team includes veteran slammers Danny Solis and Kenn Rodriguez along with first-timers Tony Santiago and Jerry Mondrag¢n. The group, which will be the first all-Chicano team in Albuquerque's slam history, is ready and eager to represent at the 2003 National Poetry Slam.
The tournament will be in Chicago from August 6-9 and invites 63 teams from across the nation to participate in four days of jovial, poetic bliss and fierce competition.
This year's team, coached by Don McIver, fuses the old school with the new, making a promising combination of diverse expression.
Rodriguez said he feels that the levels of experience and degrees of individualism present within the group are two of the team's major strengths and could grant them a ticket to the semifinals.
"We've all got the capability to be pretty explosive performers," he said.
Rodriguez, who describes his poetic style as "Chicano-American hybrid," portrays the tournament as an anything-goes affair.
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"It's kind of a crap shoot when you get up there," he said. "One of the things we've got going for us is that we're all pretty consistent as performers, and that's what you really need at nationals."
Mondrag¢n, who has only recently started sharing his poetry in public, shares his teammate's optimism.
"I think we're all pretty confident and we're not afraid to be onstage," he said. "A lot of our poetry defines our culture and shows how proud we are of who we are."
Mondrag¢n believes his poetry defines a Chicano reality and considers himself "just a rookie."
Tony Santiago, who won the title of City Champ in this year's local competition, agrees that Solis holds the advantage as far as experience goes. Yet, he is quick to add that all members have their strong points.
"As far as recognition, Danny is the strongest, but as far as power, Jerry is," he said. "Everything he says, he says with power. Kenn is the strongest in terms of emotional connection - Kenn will make you feel something. I'm the one that stands out the most. I'm not the best, but I stand out. I truly am, pretty much wherever I go, the funniest guy in the room."
Santiago said his poetry can be termed with the phrase "Life goes on."
Solis, who calls his poetry "awkward, lyrical silliness" has also shifted much of his poetry to the lighter side of life. When asked how his poetry has changed over the 10 years that he has been involved in the slam, Solis replied, " I think my style is more intimate now. I tend to write about happier things. There is a lot of joy in life and I think that learning how to soak it up and give it back is a good thing."
Solis also said he believes that not having a female on the team is a definite drawback.
"I've seen all-male teams win, but you don't have the balance," he said. "There's a saying that goes 'where there is no woman, there is no magic,' and I firmly believe that."
But this minor setback is unlikely to affect a team that consists of such potent poets. The group is going to the tournament with no qualms about the outcome and is looking forward to the experience that awaits them in the city where it all started.
"Somebody who was a lot wiser than I am once said, 'the best poet always loses in slam,'" Rodriguez said.
