(Note: This is a sequel to A Senior on The Edge, which can be found here.)

Word was out. By the time I arrived, The Edge was packed with teens there to witness the second Open Mic Night of the season. This time we had dual MCs hosting the event: Alex, the amiable and engaging host from last month, and Savanna, a lovely young woman who seemed very much at ease in the spotlight.

First up was Caleb, who performed several instrumental numbers on the acoustic guitar. His selections had a blues beat flavor, with thumping cadences that interplayed with a melody line. I believe they were original compositions, and the audience seemed appreciative.

Cesar Duran Ortega next took the stage and reprised two poems he had delivered to a much smaller audience at a previous Open Mic Night. Once again he gave a commanding performance that brought cheers and applause from the group. I would say Cesar has already developed a devoted following among his peers. He employs language and images that speak equally well to their fears and to their hopes. In so doing, he achieves a tone of thoughtful candor that crosses generational lines. 

When Cesar returned later in the program, he shared a new poem portraying the aftermath of a crumbling relationship. It beautifully captured the wrenching pain a young man experiences when the moment is the girl—and the girl is gone.

He compared his whirlwind romance with a shooting star, observing that nothing prepares you for the profound sense of loss when you believe with all your heart that “she was endless; she was everything.” And now she has moved on to the company of another man, and the poet finds himself utterly bereft.

Woven skillfully into the poem’s background was an important element of self-awareness acknowledging that “we were only 17.” This young poet manages to put his finger on the pulse of his listeners and invites them to reflect with him. When Cesar left the stage, several attractive young women hugged him and praised his performance. Eat your hearts out, football captains. In this domain, the poets rule.

The other showstopper involved an essay entitled “Knowing Her,” which was delivered by a soft-spoken young woman. I’ll not reveal her name out of respect for the very private nature of the experiences she shared. From the outset, we learned that the portrait she was painting was a somber one. The young woman she described “had the mind of an old woman even though she was only 16.” Born out of wedlock, her mother had abandoned her. That sense of abandonment spilled over into severe depression, high-risk behavior, poor selection of friends and trouble at every level.

“She learned to build walls” to protect herself and to keep other people out. Eventually she became suicidal and made several unsuccessful attempts on her own life.

Mercifully, something turned the tide, although the essay did not reveal exactly how that happened. We did learn that the young woman “made better friends,” which doubtlessly lies at the heart of her walk up out of the abyss. 

As the story unfolded, I began to sense that the essayist was, in fact, revealing her own life experience. Although it was not the most articulate rendering I’ve ever heard, it was most assuredly one of the bravest. At its core was a clarion call for parents to nurture their children—not cast them off to fend for themselves. The essay left no doubt that there was a direct connection between her abandonment and the perception that “she was different.”

The evening’s program featured another poet, Natasha, who shared the story behind the dash on a tombstone between the date a person is born and the date he/she dies. The poet’s premise is that the dash represents not just the time a person has but also the opportunities to make a positive difference in the lives of others. Although somewhat discomforted by stage fright, Natasha kept her cool and finished the reading in fine style.

Musicians next stepped into the spotlight, with Jackson serving up an original composition on his electric guitar entitled “Too Heavy for the World.” His deft finger work reminded me that young people have a level of manual dexterity I’ve long since lost. In like manner, Damon entertained the audience with a complex guitar solo that took full advantage of both dedicated practice and his full head of hair that became a part of the performance’s authenticity. Alex, who had opened the evening with some wistful tunes on his acoustic guitar, joined with another performer to share a “sing along” moment, complete with ukulele accompaniment. Finally, several young ladies added brief rap performances to cap off the evening.

It was nice to see that once again the audience showed its appreciation to each and every performer. The claim that teens don’t know how to communicate effectively is being undermined by this new library venue where free expression is encouraged. The next Open Mic event is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 28 from 4:00-5:30pm in The Edge. Hope to see you there.

Does supporting good teen activities fit your philanthropic goals? If so, contact The Library Foundation about a donation or give online.