Talk about a fish out of water.  When I entered “The Edge” at 6:00 pm on July 29, I was by far the oldest person (at 65) in the room.  The atmosphere was buzzing as teens settled into their seats and last-minute adjustments were made by library staff to the sound system.   

The master of ceremonies was a young man who obviously enjoyed the spotlight and had a friendly, easy manner about him.  He joked with participants and audience members and set the tone for the relaxed, informal nature of the evening. 

One of the first presenters was a young poet named Cesar.  He explained to the audience that his poem centered on his cousin, who had lost his life tragically in a shooting incident where he was an innocent victim who happened to be “in the wrong place, at the wrong time.”  Then, reciting from memory, Cesar launched into a flowing tribute with a depth and poignancy that literally drew all the air out of the room.  What had been a rather boisterous undercurrent of conversation became completely silent as everyone present focused on this riveting performance.  I had not been prepared for this. 

Those performers that followed each brought something special of themselves to the experience.  One young man ably performed a rap tune, with the master of ceremonies contributing the backbeat.  A young lady gave us a lip sync performance of the popular song “One Step at a Time,” which had our feet tapping along with her.  A young teen and her sister both sang a cappella with a nice, lilting quality to their voices.  A second poet shared several of his poems, warning the audience in advance that their tone would be somber but that we should stay with him to the end, where shafts of light would penetrate the gloom.  Another teen recited several short poems of her own, and when her memory momentarily failed, she bravely held her ground, regrouped, and completed her recitation.  The master of ceremonies presented some lively songs and accompanied himself on the guitar, an instrument that seemed to fit his outgoing personality. 

The teen audience greeted all performances with polite applause and encouraging comments.  Then Cesar was invited back to recite another poem.  He again provided useful background comments, indicating that this poem was dedicated to a female friend who had fallen on hard times.  The poem more than lived up to its billing by virtue of its encouraging tone and its affirmation of the young woman’s ability to transcend the adversity she’d encountered.  As before, this talented young man held the audience in the palm of his hand.   

When the library decided to create a special gathering place for teens, I was intrigued by the decision to include a small raised stage in the room.  Having now watched some of our teen users move in and out of the spotlight on that stage, I can see what a sterling idea that has proved to be.   Future Open Mic Nights are already scheduled for August 26 and September 30 from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm.  I plan to be in attendance. 

Jim McHenry
Foundation Director
July 30, 2009