Rap it up

Whether you pen your poetry or prefer to let it just roll off your tongue (or even if you couldn't rhyme your way out of a paper bag), you'll no doubt be completely inspired by Poetic License, a special airing April 1 at 11 p.m on PBS. Beg your parents to let you stay up (or set your VCR) and check out this documentary on teen poetry slams.

What's a slam? Imagine an open-mike night for poets. Most of the kids participate "freestyle"-- shooting off words rapid-fire from the tops of their heads. A few do readings from their own original works. What they all have in common is a passion for spreading the word about whatever moves them--the environment, poverty, love, violence, discrimination. And they put it so darn eloquently: "What God was it that slid us on to this planet as slick as we are with lightning tongues and gave us the task of poets?" That's Tim Arevalo, winner, 1998 San Francisco Teen Poetry Slam.

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