Slam Dunk Into Slam Poetry

Slam Poetry is the best type of poetry for people with competitive natures. It enhances the words of a poem with a performance. (Brief Guide to Slam Poetry). In this form of poetry, writers approach the stage and attempt to dazzle judges, as well as audiences, with their creative approaches to the art of words. This style of poetry can often be delivered through stories, acting, singing, and other artistic word works (National Poetry Slam Decatur). 

Possibly the hardest version of competition, slam poetry requires great effort on tone, emphasis, enunciation, and even accent when speaking. However, the rhythm that most slams contain help to quicken memorization more than simply memorizing sentences. Emphasized parts of the poem, in which the writer often becomes more inflamed with emotion, also aids writers in remembering their lines before performing in front of the crowd.  

Slam poetry is also known among today’s youth as spoken word, which is most often displayed throughout religious and political views. It is quickly becoming one of the more popular ways to share poetry. And the writer has full control over a word’s tone and linguistic effects by saying what is intended in the way it is meant to be said. Slam poetry is opposite to flash fiction in this way. Power is reserved strictly to the person on stage as opposed to being in the reader’s hands. Let’s look at an example:

Since slam poetry is all about the visual presentation of the writing, I've included a link below if you'd like to follow along to a YouTube presentation of this slam poem presented as an opera song:

It Makes No Difference Abroad - Jake Heggie [YouTube]

It makes no difference abroad 
The Seasons – fit – the same 
The Mornings blossom into Noons 
And split their Pods of Flame 
 
Wild flowers – kindle in the Woods 
The Brooks slam – all the Day 
No Black bird bates his Banjo 
For passing Calvary 
 
Auto da Fe – and Judgement 
Are nothing to the Bee 
His separation from His Rose 
To Him – sums Misery

This poem by Emily Dickenson is primarily presented as song, which allows the melody to carry the message gracefully to the ear of the listener. Song provides free space for creativity of enunciation, emphasis and, somewhat, the freedom of the presenter. This poem is a “nature poem,” where it focuses on natural elements. The flowers, brooks and black birds carry out their normal cycle of life no matter what happens in the outside world. It emphasizes how even the bee is oblivious to any judgement, for the only thing that matters is the rose, and his separation from it. Hence, opera is one of the best ways to perform this particular slam, because of the flow of natural tendencies included in opera.

Slam poetry is never meant to be silent, but spoken with intent. This is why everything relies on the performances, which takes guts from speakers ready to be judged to the fullest extent in front of those who hear what he or she has to say. Coffee bars or online databases, such as Youth Speaks, are the most efficient areas that provide space and open ears for slam poetry. This form of poetry is a perfect exercise to gain confidence in writing and keep the creative juices flowing. Enjoy the adrenaline rush of passionate words!

Ok, you are free to share either slam poetry content you come across online with us. Or, if you are feeling a real challenge, make your own video with your own slam poem, post to YouTube or other SAFE video site (If site is not safe, we will delete your post) and post a link with a title and description (whether the slam poem words or basic information about your experience presenting in the video). Have fun with it!

Sources:
"About The National Poetry Slam." National Poetry Slam Decatur. The Misadventures of Dzine, Web. 13 Sept. 2016. 

Dickinson, Emily. "Poems of Emily Dickinson: It Makes No Difference Abroad." Monarch Notes. 1963. HighBeam Research. 20 Oct. 2016.