Top Performers from the 2009 National Poetry Slam

Sixty-eight slam poetry teams from as far away as Fort Worth and Vancouver descended on West Palm Beach, Florida last week to compete in the 2009 National Poetry Slam. Over a five day period, the teams were culled down to four finalists hailing from New York and San Francisco--cities that traditionally produce strong teams--as well as St. Paul, Minnesota, and Albuquerque, New Mexico. The team from St. Paul, called "Soap Boxing" took home the prize with Albuquerque coming in second.

Saturday's finals were held at the Palm Beach Convention Center before a crowd of almost a thousand people, evidence of just how much the competition has grown since the first two-team slam in San Francisco in 1990. Despite that growth, the competition has retained much of its underground feel. The crowd is alternatively rapt and raucous, and judges--often selected at random from the audience-- are roundly booed if their score is anything lower than 9 out of 10.

Slam poetry inspires that sort of energetic behavior (and I mean that as a compliment) with its strong ties to rap and theater as well as to traditional poetry. Henry Sampson, President of the organizing body behind the event, described slam poetry's connections to other genres to the Palm Beach Post: "Hip-hop, spoken word and slam poetry all evolved separately. But they do enhance one other, and page poetry benefits, too. It's all a great breeding ground of words and rhythm." Sampson also touched on how slam poetry is developing closer ties to traditional poetry: "In the next two years you'll see a great crossover. We have slam poets who are getting their MFAs" (by that he means a Masters of Fine Arts degree--a graduate degree in creative writing).

A good example of this crossover is Soap Boxing's Sierra DeMulder, who received the highest individual score on Saturday night, and who considers herself to be "a page poet first." "Slam involves the audience, and forces you to be more accessible, to write in clearer language," she told the Post. "People love the show, and it brings out the competitiveness in all of us." Here, she performs an intensely personal poem called "Werewolf":

Whereas traditional poetry usually relies on imagery, metaphor and subtle music for effect, slam poetry leans heavily on rhythm. This clip of Blair, a performer at the 2009 slam, reading a poem about his days working at Chrysler is a good example. He uses the rhythms of the factory to create the powerful rhythms of his poem.

But while a slam poem's poetic components are highly valued, performance--normally an afterthought for poets-- is the key to scoring highly. Here, Khary Jackson of Soap Boxing (otherwise known as "6 is 9") performs "Her Name." The piece works like a highly-energized dramatic monologue.

and this performance of "Our Fathers" by the Denver Mercury Poetry Slam Team at the 2009 Slam feels like a scene from a play.

Want to see more? The Palm Beach Post featured more video highlights and photos of the event.

Comments

[Daniel Watt]

"An alcoholic is always an alcoholic, sober is another word for thirsty." I love this angst filled clever stuff.

[shar]

I thank you for this piece. I was clueless re poetry slams until I was fortunate enough to hire Cynthia French to host our atelier's spoken word weekly event. At the time, she was the Minnesota Poetry Slam Master! We had so much fun watching/listening to this massive art form every Thursday evening!

Our doors have now closed and Cynthia (who will always be a poet/write­r/teacher) has become Dottie Hazard of the Minnesota Roller Girls "Dagger Dolls" http://www.myspace.com/cynthiafrench, but I can attest to the sentiment that this is an art form worth getting to know! And I am pleased MN took home the prize!

[Diane Ingram]

Kudos to Khary (6 is 9) Jackson, Michael Mlekoday, Kyle (Guante) Myhre, Sierra DeMulder and team alternate Jenn Parks. As Shar said, at our Thursday Spoken Word evenings we were lucky to have these poets share their talents at atelier over the last several years. Even after Cynthia French left us she returned to host several special events, bringing in SLAM poets from around the country. Truly a wonderful art form.

[jaykaysr]

Is it me, or did others find the audio in the first clip unintelligible at times?

[joelaf]

oops, misread the headline. Thought it was the POULTRY slam.

[MyTurn2020]

I am a HUGE fan of the arts. In the 1990's when I lived in NYC, several friends and I took up poetry and participated in poetry slams. I loved it. One of my fondest moments in poetry was the reception I received at the Nuyorican cafe. I made some great friends out of that experience. Since the 1990's poetry slams have grown and the 2009 Slam had some awesome talent!

http://www.nuyorican.org/

[PhilipB]

Loved your comment!

[ZTB]

in the 80's, at nuyorican and abc no rio, st. marks church.....
some of the best poets around.....
only exception...they didn't call it slam poetry then.....
they were simply "readings".

[ZTB]

oh, and major difference.....you didn't have to BUY TICKETS!

[Josie Gates]

IF in Chicago go to the Green Mill on sunday night, best poetry slam, I can remember poetry I heard there 15 years ago, all kindsof people write poetry and some deliver it so taht you will never forget it.

[aintnogod]

IT'S PRETTY FUNNY TO ME THAT AS THE U.S. BECOME LESS LITERATE AS INDIVIDUALS AND A NATION THIS FORM OF POETRY ARISES AGAIN FROM THE PAST. UNLIKE THE PRE-LITERATE GREEK HOMERS, HOWEVER, THE VERBAL POETS NOW CELEBRATE THEMSELVES RATHER THAN THE DEEDS OF THEIR HEROES. IS IT ALL SHOW OVER SUBSTANCE?

[coffeehousemt]

Did you watch the videos? These poems are full of performance AND substance. And, honestly, these performance poets are quite the tribute to the Greek poets, sharing their stories through spoken word and continuing the oral tradition. They talk about modern-day heroes and those who will never be; explore the logic of the natural world as well as the limitations and tribulations of man; and even explore philosophy, god, and religion.

Excellent choices to represent the breadth of work at this year's show.

[ZTB]

in all due respect......i think you just don't get the whole poetry scene.