By Amanda Butler, Staff Writer
That is what Saint Leo senior Oscar Redden proclaimed during his spoken word reading during Tuesday’s Open Mic Night. Holding true to Redden’s enthusiastic rap-style poem, expression was something everyone conveyed that night.
The event was held in the Cannon Memorial library at seven p.m. overlooking the lake. It was originally designed to incorporate music, skits, prose, and poetry. Everyone had something to say, and they expressed themselves through poetry, short stories, or spoken word; whether it was an original piece or a tribute to a favorite work, such as Langston Hughes’ A Dream Deferred.
The audience was just as involved as the performer, happily participating and engaging in what was being said. Various chuckles were heard during the happier poems, and appreciative clapping echoed through the normally silent building after every performance. Eyes were set with concentration and foreheads were furrowed, yearning to unlock the various meanings reverberating from the microphone and through the speakers.
Though a few short stories and spoken word performances took the stage, poetry dominated the attention. The words were just as individual as the reader, ranging from a sensual description of skyscrapers compared to a woman’s body; to a prayer to God; to even a speech about the connection between truth and cookies. Every performer had a set of words, and every set of words had a message.
The event itself was designated to last from seven to ten that night, however everyone was given a turn and all the readings were finished within an hour and a half. In just ninety minutes, a variety art was celebrated, with about thirty or so pieces read. The gathering celebrated artists both known within the Saint Leo community, and those widely known elsewhere, and gave everyone involved a chance to entertain and share their souls.
