Ready to slam, poetically, at least

PREVIEW. Poetry slams have always been about the sheer power of language, from the way that slam-mers refer to our region as the NorthBeast, to the phrase “poetry slam,” itself. But tonight it’s about to get even more intense, as poets compete in the second half of this year’s Regional Team Poetry Slam.

“This is sort of like the ‘preseason’ games,” says Jeff Robinson, 40-year-old slam master of the team from the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge. Robinson will compete against the Cantab Slam Team along with two other teams in a four-person head-to-head challenge to prepare for the National Poetry Slam in Wisconsin this August.

“A slam poet is defined solely by their willingness to bring their art into a competitive arena,” says Nicole Rodriguez, a Roxbury native and member of the Lizard Lounge team. “The time limitations, rules and judgment create a slightly different dynamic than performing without those constraints, but it’s still a performance.” Competitors such as Mark Palos are coming from as far away as New Hampshire. “People who normally would not be engaged by poetry get engaged by slam poetry and the competition makes it that much more appealing,” he says.

Regional Team Slam
Tonight, 8
Cantab Lounge
738 Mass Ave., Cambridge
$3, 617-354-2685
 www.cantab-lounge.com