The Journal

Issue date: 10/5/06 Section: LifeStyle

Media Credit: Max Gersh Slam poet Andrea Gibson performs Sept. 27 in front of a full crowd in the UC Sunnen Lounge. She was accompanied by guitarist Nicole Torres. Gibson has been touring on and off for the past four years and is about to start a large tour along the East Coast.

At first, Andrea Gibson kept her head down and shuffled her feet toward the microphone on stage. But when she delivered the first lines of her poem "Dive," her voice was clear and confident:

"I often repeat myself, and the second times a lie. I love you. I love you, see what I mean I don't ... and I do."

Gibson, a spoken word artist from Colorado, went on to read some of her poems in the University Center Sunnen Lounge Sept. 27 to a crowd of about 40 people. LGBTQ Alliance sponsored the event. Seats were filled early during an opening set by local artist Julie Schurr.

In spoken word, the artist recites poems, lyrics or stories in their performance. Sometimes, spoken word performers are accompanied by music.

Gibson's poems addressed topics such as the war in Iraq, the experience of being part of
the gay and lesbian community, religion and sexual abuse.
Gibson expressed her views
with passion and, at some
points, fury.

In her poem about a soldier in Iraq she shouted the lines:

"Fuck your yellow ribbon, if you want to support our troops bring them home."

The lines garnered applause from the audience.

Gibson also addressed sexual labels throughout the show. She said she's had girlfriends in the past, but doesn't like to limit herself or conform to a label.

"She was extremely powerful and poignant," said Holden Leeker, a senior anthropology major. "I liked how she talked about gender issues and how she struggles with them, too."

Throughout the night, Gibson read her poems with force. Her rapid-fire delivery was broken only by short gasps for breath. She waved her arms in gestures that punctuated and emphasized her lines.

Gibson's reading affected many in the audience, some who weren't familiar with Gibson until recently.

One audience member said the show moved her to tears.

Continued...

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