Just posted a recording of “Political Art” on the Myspace. Enjoy.

http://www.myspace.com/poetrybytonybrown

This could get wordy, so I’ll keep it brief.

1. I’ve been a notable critic of the state of slam poetry. While I think that’s still my right, it’s been a long time since I slammed regularly. I’m starting to feel like I need to be inside again.

2. I want to try newer work on stage. While I used “Mission Statement” last night in the first round, I did that for me and me alone — sort of a nod to the past. I used “Snakes on a Plane” in the second round — a poem less than a year old, albeit a fairly slammy one — and since we have a no-repeat rule in Wormtown, I can scratch both of those off the list. 🙂

Look for newer stuff in the semis and (if I make it) finals, although I never discount the use of older stuff if it fits the night. I’m not a believer in the stuff about not using your old poems. I wrote them, and I stand by them.

3. I would like, personally, to be part of mixing up the demographic at NPS. Old poets represent.

4. I was nervous going in, was nervous throughout, and am still nervous. That’s a very, very good thing. I’ve been writing hard for so long — between the new work with Duende and this, I want to keep honing the performance of new work. Getting scared is crucial to getting and keeping that edge, at least for me.

That’s it.

I won the slam tonight. First serious, for-the-team competition I’ve been in ( I have participated in a couple of demo slams and I won the MC slam at IWPS 2003) since 2001.

I’m in the semi-finals.

I’m playing to win.