Downstate

Summary

High banter is a key ingredient of folk culture andfamily folklore. It’s also the essence of the poetry duels... Both on street corners and stages, poets riff off each other in rhyme, participating in traditions ranging from extempo in Trinidad, in Portugal, contrasti in Italy, freestyle rap in the US, and repentistas in Brazil. The banter between couples and others is also reminiscent of what happens when jazz musicians riff off one another.