Poet Performs The Riot Wasn't Plan A and Wins Four Yeses

Hello. How are you? I'm all right. I ain't bad.

Good. How's everything backstage? Good? Backstage is hilarious. Uh, uh, yes.

I've seen a bit of it. How did you feel when you woke up this morning?

Um, hungry. Hungry? Okay. That's how it usually starts, but I felt, I felt good. I felt ready.

Cool. And where are you from? I was born in New York. Yeah.

Raised in the South, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina.

Yeah. So, I'm America's baby, you know what I mean?

Yeah. Okay. And why did you decide to come on the show this year?

It's a great show. I've, I've seen it for years, and, um, it felt, felt right to do it this year.

We love surprises, so I'm not gonna ask you anything else.

You ready? Yeah, I'm ready. I'm ready. Okay. We're ready. Good luck.

Come on, be good. Very good for you.

I'm a poet, and, um, this poem is called The Riot Wasn't Plan A.

And if you loved anything that much, if you loved anything that much, that much, you'd fight too.

You'd fight through who and whatever, bet you'd choose violence over silence every time.

You might die, but you might live. You might give the last drop you couldn't stop if you loved anything that much.

If you loved anything that much, the touch of patience would hit differently.

You'd be forced to disagree, compelled to disobey, compelled even if afraid.

God bless the day long with struggling, the night deep with loving and touching.

Now imagine it disappearing into nothing.

People, keep on learning, oh.

Wow. Soldiers, yeah, they keep on warring.

To feel love in your mouth again, I bet you would turn into a cussor, a disruptor, a disturber of the peace.

Your peace intact, exact precision of blunt instruments.

It would make no difference however intuition or intonation might lead.

You cry and swing and cry and swing for the fences.

If you loved anything that much, you'd fight too.

You'd fight back, no matter how weak they said you were.

No matter how many days in a row you haven't eaten, ain't been sleeping, barely breathing, still wanting, still needing.

You keep on keeping, finding fresh paint for that picket sign.

You jump the line, regretting you only have one life to give for your babies and your lover.

Lying to your mother, who's still in denial about raising a fire starter, a flame fanner, son of man, not manna.

You laugh on the witness stand. The only hands you are in belong to the most high.

Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, them your first, second, and third cousins.

Nat Turner, William Wallace, them your brethren.

So glad he let me try it again. My last honor, I leave the whole world saying I, I keep on trying.

Till I reach the highest ground. Yeah. Hey, Lord.

I can't let nobody, the highest ground.

Mm, yeah. Thank God.

Wow. That was very, very, very, very powerful.

Thank you.

You delivered inspiration and vocals and wisdom all wrapped up in a beautiful package.

I loved it. Sofia. Your voice is beautiful.

It feels like, you know, you really meant what you were saying, and I think that's what made it so special.

Thank you. Thank you.

You said, "I'm a poet," and you are a poet, but you know what?

You are so much more than just a poet. Took poetry and spoken word to a whole other level.

Thank you. I get it from my mother. I get it from my mom.

My mom's a poet. My grandfather was a poet.

My great-grandmother was a poet. A great audition, first of all, is a surprise.

Secondly, you gotta be original. And importantly, you gotta be remembered, and you're gonna be remembered for that. Thank you.

That was so good. That's a 10. That was an 11.

Howie. Yes. Mel. Yes. No-brainer, yes. Three yeses.

I really like you. Four yeses. Living in love.

Shining so bright. Shining so bright. Shining so bright.

Shining so bright. That was great. How are you feeling? I'm feeling good. Okay, man.

I'm feeling good. That, listen, the standing O- Standing O was great, huh?

... was, I didn't, I didn't expect a standing O. What are you gonna do next, my brother?

I'm going to use the bathroom because I really...

Thank you. Thank you.