Slam! Poetry at the White House (or is that Poetry Slam . . .)

by David Safier
Poets usually get invited to the White House to show off the current occupant's class and cul-cha. But a poetry slam? That's a whole 'nother matter.

And our own Assistant House Democratic Leader Kyrsten Sinema is one of the 100 people nationwide invited — to watch, not to slam.

Do you think the audience will be grading the poets? Isn't a slam supposed to have a winner?

Here are the participants: James Earl Jones; Mayda Del Valle- Slam poet; Michael Chabon; ELEW (Jazz pianist); Esperanza Spalding (Jazz Bass player); Lin-Manuel Miranda- In The Heights playwright and star; and Ayelet Waldeman.

I take it, it's not open mic night.

QUESTION: Dr. Word wants to know, why is it "mic" and not "mike"? "Mic" should rhyme with "pick," right? Not with "pike"? Anyone know the origins of that odd spelling? I'm sure there's a very good, very hip reason.