Welcome to the sixth edition of our poetry corner. Today, we will explore one of my favorite forms of poetry: spoken word poetry. This style explores the intersection between performance, vocal rhythm, and diction. It creates a melody that aims to resonate with the audience and highlight an important message. 

Spoken Word Poetry

Spoken word or slam poetry is a style of poetry written to be performed out loud. When authors perform their poem, they focus on how their voices and tone are reflected, the rhythm in which they pace their words and using diction to create a story. Spoken word poetry aims to tell a story with specific word choice and encapture the audience in the way the author chooses to do this. People perform spoken word poetry with different rhythms— from storytelling to rap and hip-hop. These poems are used for social commentary and empowerment and encourage expression. 

An author who clearly and cleverly conveys his message through spoken word poetry is Sekou Andrews. An entrepreneur and trailblazer, Andrews has introduced a form of spoken word to celebrities such as Oprah and Barack Obama. A powerful line he uses in his poem The Science of Wave Making is “Be unafraid to lead boldly and think radically and put an S on the chest of your mild-mannered strategies.” The rhythm in which his words flow and the social commentary he makes through his diction demonstrate why he has reached success in his work. 

Excerpt from “It is Happening”

We stood on the top of the tree that we had built

No longer a stump or a trunk

But a tree marked with cracks 

With branches of our wonder

Of our dreams and truth 

We shook hands with society’s standards

Felt like a diamond in a dozen hammered 

into dime in a dozen

When faced with their greeting

Of what do you mean

Our words were underdressed

Unsophisticated, overlooked

But can’t you see?

No matter barrier nor border

No matter obligatory nor order

No matter how fast the diamond turns to dime

My friends

Look around and see

It is happening!

The stump of the tree 

Untethered from the norms

Unrooted and blown into our storms

That will always shake the standards that society sets forth

And we will begin our own journey to find our true north

*Maya Desai performed this spoken word poem for Sage Center Day on April 16.