Every Tuesday night from 10 p.m. to midnight, supporters of the Baton Rouge poetry scene converge at Cafe Reggae, a hidden treasure on Chimes Street, for the “Eclectic Truth Open Mic Poetry Night.”
However, this is no competitive contest – the night is all about love: love for the audience, love for the poets and love for spoken word and inspiration.
The event was brought to Cafe Reggae by the Baton Rouge Poetry Alliance less than a year ago. The group’s Vice President, Chancelier Skidmore, better known as “Xero,” hosts the poetry event.
Xero has hosted many poetry readings at different locales for about five years now, but rates Cafe Reggae as one of the nicest places he’s hosted.
“[Cafe Reggae] is a good medium to feel intimate, but at the same time, it’s not so toned down that it lulls you into this really bored state of mind,” Xero said.
Xero opens with his introductory poem, “Speak the Truth,” which challenges the audience to leave behind their inhibitions and embrace the respect shared among newcomers and regulars alike.
When a first-time poet, or “virgin,” gets on-stage, the audience is encouraged to applaud “long and hard” for the virgin as an example of the open-mindedness expected of each patron.
The poetry has very diverse themes, ranging from hate, love, sex, children, culture, politics and what Xero calls the “dreaded poetry about poetry.”
No matter what topic, each poem is a reflection of the personal experiences the poet wishes to share.
What makes the poetry night different from the stereotypical beatnik bongos and snapping applause is warm, colorful lighting and impromptu music that adds to each poets’ performance and infuses a sense of rhythm and melody into each performance. Only the warmth of the receptive audience is stronger than the island feel on stage. And while there are bongos, the poet is sometimes accompanied by a guitar and even a saxophone, giving a performance a soulful twist.
Courtney Baker, a food science freshman, lost her “open mic virginity” on her second visit to Cafe Reggae. Baker finds comfort in the music as well as the audience when she performs.
“I’m comfortable up there,” she said, “although I have really bad stage fright. You’re sharing your inner thoughts with the other poets and they give you a sense of acceptance.”
While Baker continues to show up Tuesday nights, Alesi Ngemi, an agriculture sophomore may not feel so welcomed.
Ngemi felt shunned by a doorman he considers “curt and not very helpful.”
Yet he also feels that once inside, “the music made up for the doorman experience, and the jerk pork wasn’t bad either.”
Even if you cannot make it out to Tuesday’s poetry night, you can enjoy Cafe Reggae’s authentic Caribbean food daily. Featured among exotic delicacies are jerk chicken, hummus, and the house specialty: honey jerk ribs and wings.
“I’m not a poetry fan, but it’s a good feeling.” Carter said. “It brings people together, and we have quite a mixture of people.”