Paula Lindo – Our histories, stories, present, future.

For the first time in history, all three finalists in the First Citizens National Poetry Slam are women. In first, second and third place respectively, were Alexandra Stewart, Shinique Saunders and 2018 defending champion Deneka Thomas.

The clean sweep was even more remarkable considering that only five of the 15 finalists were women. The first prize winner received $50,000, the second place winner received $20,000 and third place received $10,000. FCB Deputy CEO Business Generation Jason Julien said the prizes were the largest in the world. He said this is an investment in the creativity of T&T

Stewart’s prize-winning poem took a look at the challenges faced by creatives in T&T, who are often asked and expected to work for exposure and/or refreshments. She blasted employers and organizations who don’t pay performers the full value of their work. Stewart began by asking what was the exchange rate for exposure, since employers expected it to pay bills and buy food, and ended by saying it’s time for the starving artist to eat. The audience gasped, applauded and exclaimed throughout, as the poem clearly hit a nerve.

Saunders’ poem examined the struggles faced by mothers who migrate in order to provide for their children. The heart-wrenching performance showed how the mothers had to almost split themselves in half in order to fit into the different environments. Thomas embodied a La Diablesse, delving into the reasons why a woman might become this mythological creature who leads men to their doom.

Poets Javaughn Forde and Marcus Millette garnered honourable mentions, Forde for his use of the metaphor of puppets and puppet masters to describe the reasons behind the crime situation in T&T, and Millette for his incisive look into how Trinidadians use humour to mask their insecurities.

The other contestants were Michael Logie, Muhammad Muwakil, Seth Sylvester, Isaiah Wayne John, Abdul Majeed Abdal Karim, Crystal St. Hilaire, Red Frederick, Shimiah Lewis, Brendon O’Brien, Idrees Saleem and Kyle Hernandez. The topics covered included child and sexual abuse, religion and its effects, crime, politics, current events, parenting, cancer, infertility, corruption, child murder, xenophobia, ego, and the general complacency of T&T citizens.

The judging criteria were voice and articulation,  stage presence, dramatic appropriateness, literary devices, use of language and continuity. The judges were Dr. Angelique V. Nixon, Penelope Spencer  and visiting writers Marcia Douglas, Geoffrey Phillip and Danez Smith.

Head judge Nixon said the 2019 competition was the strongest ever. She said the poets and performances captivated the judges and held their attention. She said the quality of the performances was such that the differences in points came down to minor issues of time, stage presence and continuity. She applauded the craft of all the performers and encouraged them to think about the journey of their poems before announcing the results.

The show, which was the final event of the Bocas Literary Festival, flowed smoothly. The National Steel Symphony Orchestra was the highlight of the opening and intermission periods. The entire show followed a Game of Thrones motif, including houses and an opening performance about the battle for the Microphone Throne.

Two Cents Movement representative Keron Niles said the organization was about youth development, teaching the importance of reading and writing your own narrative. “What you don’t express you will explode, and it will end with hurt and pain. We are trying to create space where people can heal. You cannot solve with a bullet what needs to be solved with a hug. We didn’t come out to write poems, we came out to write history, and we ask you to join us as we do.”