1. Rota, A Veteran Of The Chicago Slam Community, Enters The Green Mill On A Sunday Evening For The Weekly

1. Rota, a veteran of the Chicago slam community, enters the Green Mill on a Sunday evening for the weekly Uptown Poetry Slam. The Green Mill, where legendary poet Mark Smith hosts, is considered the birthplace of the slam movement in Chicago.

2. Rota practically screams about strangers on the train while on stage at the Green Mill. He said he got the idea for the poem during his morning commute to work in the Loop, where he practices law.

3. In between performances at the West Side School for the Desperate arts collective, Garcia practices a poem saved on his phone. West Side School for the Desperate is a DIY performance space in Logan Square.

4. Rota recites poetry in front of his bathroom mirror before a performance. Many of his poems are about fighting depression and socially awkward pandas.

5. Rota stands alone at the head of West Side School for the District. In the audience are friends he grew close to through the Chicago slam scene.

Lightning round at The Green Mill, home of the Uptown Poetry Slam:

Prompts:

1. Beetlejuice and Love

2. Seashells and Blood

3. Meatloaf and Struggle

Bremen, Germany

Horned Woman, another painted in a strange time in my life

Northwestern v. Penn State, Senior Night

I thought about selling my virginity at the Moonlite BunnyRanch.

-this chick who doesn't want to be named because she still might do it