I know I should be writing this blog post about the Nuyorican Poetry Cafe. It’s so famous, cultural icon, blah, blah, blah. Yes, the Nuyorican is great. But I’d rather focus this post on Jade Sylvan, the poet who was featured there last night.

Jade Sylvan recently published her first full-length book of poetry, “The Spark Singer.” She read the last poem in her book, “Evolution” first, since the “Nuyorican is a special place.” Sylvan’s performance of her writing was absolutely wonderful.  One line in particular really struck a chord in me: Sometimes you are there,/ and you have warm places/ and I have warm places,/ and if touch those/ warm places, we have love./ I like love, too.

Sylvan’s poem, “Flora & Fauna” was equally ingenious. In it, she is responding to John Milton. In Paradise Lost, he writes that Adam names all the animals and Eve just gets to name the flowers. This poem is Eve’s response to God: to swell I will must swallow you/ and rip me you follow you/ must no stillness/ but move screams/ and sweatcomebloodspray/ oh you nothing know oh/ next time make a lady.

Sylvan dressed up for Halloween as a “Disgruntled Prom Queen Circa 1992,” clad in a black lace dress with fishnets and black boots. She was selling her book at the Cafe for fourteen dollars and was willing to sign it for anyone who wanted. I, of course, wanted her to sign my copy for me, and she gladly obliged.

The rest of the night, aka the other poets, was also fun to hear. However, I felt that none of the poets compared to Sylvan. I did enjoy the Open Mic a lot though. I was very tempted to get up there and read my own work, but I chickened out at the last moment. *Sigh…* I will be back to the Nuyorican again soon. I implore anyone who is even mildly interested in poetry to check the Cafe out. And certainly look up Jade Sylvan.