Imagine standing on stage looking into the spotlight. An audience of strangers settles in before you, waiting for you to inspire them with your words. What do you say?

If you’re a poet, chances are you would perform spoken word, poetry recited and performed.

Spoken word is what the members of the Liquid Lounge Tour performed for N.C. Central University students on April 18th in the B.N. Duke Auditorium as part of Spring Fling.

Several of the students who attended the event were already familiar with the art of spoken word. Those who weren’t were immediately fascinated.

“After the first two poems, I was drawn in,” said biology junior Shacarra Taylor. “It was a whole new experience.”

The show began when poet Malik Salaam introduced himself and three other poets, who proceeded to perform their poetry.

“I thought the style in which they presented their poems added to the mood of the show,” said Ryon Smith, English sophomore.

All the poets were well-received by the audience, but the standout poet of the night was Georgia Me.

“She is a great poet--her style of poetry is unique and very identifiable,” said SGA president D’Weston Haywood.

“Her stage presence is amazing--she has great delivery,” said history junior Jamar Harris.

Tamika Harper, or Georgia Me as she is known on stage, has been performing spoken word since age eight.

“I performed Nikki Giovanni’s ‘Ego-Tripping’ and I fell in love with the art,” she said.

“It wasn’t until I was 11 when I started writing and performing my own work.”

Barbara Jordan, the first black woman in the US Congress, and Tupac are two of the main four personalities who influenced Georgia Me.

“She is very versatile-- she could give you street or standardized English,” said Harris.

“I ain’t Mary [J. Blige], but I’m gutter and fly,” said Georgia Me.