But the afternoon was about the Word. To pay homage to a man that dealt in the written word, Perdomo, bandele, Powell, Baraka and Medina captivated all with spoken words and rhymes that make their collective experiences so relevant. Not to be missed was Ras Baraka reading from the well-worn pages of his journal, reflecting that the world needs love and asking forthrightly whether there were any American poets present.

Before the crowd had fully absorbed the force of Baraka's words, up sprang Perdomo to dazzle the throng with his brilliant smile, expressive gaze and high voltage linguistics that quickly acquainted everyone with the world that he so gallantly represents. Taking time to remark on New York's recent history, Perdomo sounded the rat-tat-tat of "41 Bullets Off Broadway." With the discomforting veracity of his words still in the air, Perdomo switched gears and waxed nostalgic in "Crazy Bunch Barbecue 1999," in remembrance of an old timers' day gathering of his childhood friends from Spanish Harlem.

Prior to reading from Absence in the Palms of My Hands (Harlem River Press), asha bandele took time to thank Thompson not only for publishing her critically-acclaimed first work, but also for "being a bridge for so many and laying a path so that others could achieve." Anecdotes of days spent bonding with Thompson proteges while they shared their dreams of future success over Gray's Papaya hotdog specials warmed the crowd. But it was bandele's reading of her "Poem For Audre Lorde" and "The Subtle Art of Breathing" that captivated everyone with their themes of anguish and loss.

Praising Thompson for providing a literary outlet for established writers and up-and-coming talent, Powell lightened the mood when he read from and flashed the book jacket of his 1995 Recognize (Writers & Readers) that features Powell in a high top fade a la Kid 'N Play. In addition to paying homage to Thompson, Powell took time to reflect on the passing of Tony Medina's dad and read his recently penned "Rican and Soul" in Medina's honor.

Passing the mic to Tony Medina to conclude the afternoon's readings, Powell introduced him as the most prolific of the poets reading that day and jokingly referred to him as the funky, cold Medina. Keeping with Powell's light tone, the usually reserved Medina humorously referred to himself as the "Taliban of Love" - an off-handed reference to his goatee, long hair and olive complexion. In his verse, though, Medina was seriously reflective, describing the surreal confluence of events during the fall of 2001 - the loss of his dad, the passing of a mentor and the devastation of his hometown. Medina took the crowd on an autobiographical journey, describing the matter-of-factness of his South Bronx birth and his coming to terms with his father's death and its aftermath. Reading in a manner that blended heartfelt yearning and passion, Medina's verse struck an emotional chord befitting the gathering.