Slam poetry is an art form in which people give powerful and emotional performances of brilliant poems they have written. The performances usually take place at competitions or open mic nights at local bars. These creative poets will make you laugh, think, cry, or all of the above! Even if you don't like the poetry you study in school, you still should check out the following performances! These poets are more modern, understandable, and relatable.
1. "Explaining My Depression to My Mother" by Sabrina Benaim: This riveting and chilling performance reveals the struggles of having depression, and parents who fail to understand the horrible mental illness.
2. "OCD" by Neil Hilborn: This funny, romantic, and devastating poem exposes the difficulty of having a relationship while battling OCD.
3. "The Tampon Poem" by Sierra DeMulder: Here's a hilarious poem to lighten the mood! Sierra gives a satirical response to a male poet who made a big deal about buying tampons for his daughter.
4. "Fantastic Breasts and Where To Find Them" by Brenna Twohy: Attention "Harry Potter" fans! This poem has a clever and funny intro about "Harry Potter" fan fiction erotica. However, Brenna gets more serious as she reveals problems with the porn industry.
5. "Ten Responses to the Phrase 'Man Up'" by Guante. This poem argues that men are oppressing themselves by obsessing over masculinity.
6. "Say No" by Megan Falley and Olivia Gatwood: Some poems are duets! Megan and Olivia describe why saying "No" is difficult for women but encourages them to do so anyway.
7. "'Cuz He's Black" by Javon Johnson: When Javon's young nephew hides from the cops despite his complete innocence, Javon doesn't know whether to tell the little boy to be brave or to tell him the truth about the racism and violence in the country.
8. "The Friend Zone" by Desiree Dallagiacomo and Justin Lamb. This hilarious new perspective on the "friend zone" will make you stop complaining.
All of these poems explore personal and societal issues that virtually everyone can relate to. Please check out these poems or even write your own, and look for the nearest slam poetry competition!
