One night stand: Literary Cafe open mic

“Mr. Good D**k.” Oh no. Is this going to be one of those literarily-sterile open-mic sessions with people ejaculating thoughtless rhymes about junk and/or the lack thereof? That was my first thought when this ditty opened up The Literary Café and Poetry Lounge’s first anniversary celebration on April 5th. But, as much as I hate to admit it, the poem was funny as hell.

Then there was Gabriel. Now, this cutie is a poet. Looks like Gael García Bernal and his style is the Book of Psalms meets A Tribe Called Quest’s Midnight Marauders. Hip-hop would be proud, as the young man described how “Doug E. Fresh went stale” in a chorus of beatboxing reminiscent of Yo! MTV Raps.

The Literary Café feels like the open-mic scenes in the movie Love Jones — artsy people dipped in tattoos wearing everything from fedoras, head wraps and locks to tight jeans, flowy goddess dresses, oversized shirts and slick pimp suits. Decor-wise, it’s like stepping into someone’s bachelor pad: bar tables, stools, sofas and toffee-colored walls dressed with images of featured poets. Situated on top of a bodega, the Literary Café’s view from the 2nd floor at night is almost Paris-romantic. A welcomed retreat from the Starbucks-and-overpriced-art invasion.

The pièce de résistance is DJ Make It Do What It Do, because he does just that. The music is just right — Common, A Tribe Called Quest, Dead Presidents. And Biggie: “It was all a dream. I used to read Word-Up Magazine…” And Nas: “If I ruled the world…” You feel me.

And the owner? Will Da Real One Bell. He’ll ask the DJ to play a serious Holy Ghost-friendly gospel tune while he closes his eyes like a fully-absorbed Pentecostal pastor. The man’s deep, bringing it from the Liberty City projects and dropping it on HBO’s Def Poetry Jam.

If you’ve got a few lines scribbled on your Wal-Mart receipt and your poem’s sounding more like “Cobwebbed Crotch” rather than “Mr. Good D**k,” stop by Literary Poet’s café and get your pen wet. 

The Literary Café & Poetry Lounge, 1350 N.E. 125th St #202, North Miami; 786-234-7638; 305-981-4724; for more info, visit myspace.com/literarycafepoetrylounge

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Published: 4/08

This story was originally published April 25, 2008 at 1:04 AM.