Introduction to Atlanta Slam/Spoken-Word Poetry Week

[cadenzamuse]

Hi! I'm cadenzamuse, and I'm hosting a week on some Atlanta spoken word/slam poets that I like.

I am not a slam or spoken word poet, so I don't know very much about it other than a: it's an out loud/performed type of poetry and b: I like it. So I turned to Wikipedia to learn about the basics.

Wikipedia says that modern spoken-word poetry originated from the poetry of the Harlem Renaissance and was also shaped by the beatniks. It has deep roots in Black culture and politics.

Poetry slams are spoken-word poetry competitions that started in the mid-1980s. Slam poetry has roots in dub poetry and hip-hop (which are also both often political art forms).

But that's really dry. So how about some spoken word self-definitions?

Become a slam poet in five steps, by Gayle Danley
Miss Gayle's 5 Steps to Slam Poetry,
a lesson of transformation.

Step 1:
Write it all down.

"Take one memory,
explore it like a new land,"
the visiting poet tells the class.
"Don't leave anything out."
Tyler sits in this high school workshop,
dizzy with where to start.
Memories wander in and out of his heart
like vagrants searching for home.
He bends to his desk,
he writes,
"The snow goes black
when the moon turns its eyes away,
all paper is yellow,
all letters spell eviction note,
Mama's lies are footsteps
too many to count.
Making excuses on black snow.
'I paid the rent,
this is your room forever, baby.
I love you.'
But, she wouldn't even look at me."

Step 2:
Read out loud.

As he writes, his lips try on words
then toss them out like bad tenants.
He pushes his desk back,
stands.
"Aunt Jocelyn's rice pudding was sweet,
but that's not what I want to write.
Have you ever been so cold
your hair becomes an icicle?
Your little sister's fear of the dark
freezes on her lips
like she's kissed the ice tray?
How hungry have you been?"

Step 3:
Cut the fat.

Abandon extra words.
His pen becomes a machete,
slashing ands, thens, becauses.

Step 4:
Read out loud,
again.

The 11th grade boy makes sure
Step 3's cuts weren't too deep.

Step 5:
Add flava.

Juice,
power,
movement,
emotion.
"Vanilla flavoring is the secret to my aunt's pudding.
I kick out a few raisins but leave one or two.
Life needs some bitter
to man up the sweet."
His hands reach out like shells
to hold our disbelief.
Is this Tyler speaking?
The one who keeps his eyes on the floor
like they're carrying something heavy?
Voice rattles windows.
"I am free now."
Body quivers with the pulse of each word.
"The sun's joy melts snow."
Fingers trace the curve of his jaw.
"My aunt's face was warm as a water heater
when she let us in that night."
Our boy is done,
his transformation complete.

Step 1: Write it all down.
Step 2: Read out loud.
Step 3: Cut the fat.
Step 4: Read out loud.
Step 5: Add flava.

Tyler's first poem takes residence in his heart.
He flings his arms wide
like an open door.
Welcome home!

Some questions to discuss:

• Have you encountered spoken word poetry before? What have you liked or disliked about it?
• How do you define spoken word poetry?
• How is spoken word poetry similar to or different from other forms of poetry developed by oppressed populations?

Some things to try:

• Write a spoken word poem following the steps laid out by Gayle Danley. Feel free to share it with us!
• If you have some extra time, watch another excellent introduction to spoken word poetry at the TED Talk "If I Should Have a Daughter" by Sarah Kay.