Freshman Excels as a Slam Poet

By Stefan Kiesbye

Freshman Gabriela Guajardo, known on campus as GiGi, was cast last fall as a monkey stuck in a cage attempting to write Hamlet in “All in the Timing“ by David Ives – yet her true love is slam poetry.

She says, “I’ll never forget watching [Albuquerque poet] Tracey Dahl ... and just thinking, man ... I want to do that. More than anything.”

Last fall, she participated in the IWPS (Individual World Poetry Slam) Championship for a chance to represent New Mexico in the final event at Fayetteville, Arkansas. “The feel of my poetry is like a heartbeat in the sense that it’s unique to me, sometimes irregular, and as natural and relatable as breathing.” To her surprise she was selected top female poet of the contest.

Gabriela “GiGi” Guajardo

Photo by Amy Romero

GiGi’s goals are to bring slam poetry to Eastern, to “start a little something called The Green and Silver Slam,” and to continue to “grow academically and artistically as much as I can.”