Austin poetry team delivers fluid performance in showcase

- John Walch, special to the American-Statesman, 08-24-1998

Although the Austin team did not make it into the ``final four'' of the 1998 National Poetry Slam, it performed its group piece during the ``Best of the Week'' showcase at the Paramount Theatre on Saturday night.

With hands joined, the three women from the Austin team -- Karyna McGlynn, Genevieve Van Cleve, Susan B. Anthony Somers-Willet -- performed a moving poem about how their fathers ``weathered the tantrum of (their) childhood.'' Using the recurring image of water, the piece was equally fluid, flowing effortlessly between the polar emotions of closeness and alienation, disappointment and appreciation, love and anger.

With its fourth member, Ernie Cline, the Austin team had advanced to the semifinals Friday, earning the highest cumulative team score for the week. Unfortunately, in its final bout at Electric Lounge, the Austin team was edged out by a narrow 0.2 margin by Dallas. Cline would have loved to beat Dallas, but he's not disappointed: ``I've had a great time this week."

Phil West, who's been on the Austin's national team several times, said his favorite moment of the slam ``was seeing Dallas do their superheroes poem, seeing how they've grown from a good team into a stellar team.'' The Dallas group poem scored the only perfect 30.0 for the night.

West's attitude exemplifies the general camaraderie and supportive atmosphere that pervaded the festival. Win or lose, everyone danced at the after-party.

Copyright © 1998, The Austin American-Statesman