My History Through Slam Poetry

Although I have always considered myself a writer, I have not always considered myself a poet. When I was a freshmen in college, our dorm (the performing arts dorm) hosted a poetry slam. I had never competed or witnessed a poetry slam before. Not only did I not win, I didn’t even come in second which was a minor blow to my confidence. But the winners knew what they were doing. They had presented performance poetry whereas I had read something you could read on a page. It was a lesson well learnt.

When I was home on medical leave I went to a “Women’s Poetry Slam” hosted by Rockland Poets. It was my first encounter with Rockland Poets which would soon become an integral part of my life. Today we utilize the “whole room voting” scenario where everybody gets a vote. But back then we used judges amongst the audience, five in total. Since I didn’t know anybody I was considered impartial, the perfect judge. The slam had a “sacrificial lamb” so the judges could practice and gauge what was considered a “good piece”. I was blown away by her  talent but what if someone came along that was better (which was unlikely). I scored low and gave her a 7. There were boos. There were boos everytime I voted. I always had the lowest score which was hard because these poets were ALL talented and what if I hurt their feelings? I had the feeling the whole room hated me. But after the slam ended one girl came up to me and said I did a good job voting with integrity. Still I went outside feeling kind of off and waiting for my ride. 

Before  I left one of the founders invite me out for pizza with someone of the poets. I was honored. I wasn’t in college, I had no friends here, I ached with loneliness. That invitation sealed my fate. I would return to Rockland Poets, at first to watch. I studied success. I noticed what poems got how many votes. I learned who my competition was. And then I stepped into the game. 

I still remember when I wrote my first major performance piece. I was in driver’s class for the second time because the first one expired (I don’t drive now by the way so that class was an epic waste of time) and so bored so I pretended I was taking notes. I was reading a book of Sylvia Plath’s letters and another book that was her diary. I felt I kind of knew her so I wrote a piece entitled “Promises to Sylvia” about how we were similar and also how we weren’t. That kickstarted my slam career. 

I was amazed at how well I did at first. I placed second and third several times but I never claimed first until I participated in my first  partner slam. A partner slam is when two people compete as a team. I was paired with a very skilled poet but our prospects looked grim because we didn’t get together until the day before the slam (vacations and life’s responsibilities kept getting in the way). Using peanut butter and jelly sandwiches as fuel we churned out three poems for the three rounds and called it a day. We won and it was one of the proudest moments of my life.

I would go on to win three more times individually. I also placed second and third several more times. Unfortunately thats when the drought kicked in.  I don’t think my poems have gotten worse, in fact I’m proud of my progress and sometimes I’m very surprised when one of my poems doesn’t land well with the audience. Unfortunately its not just about how good your poem is. Sometimes it does come down to who has more friends in the audience (if I’m being cynical) or people don’t like what you have to say. 

In October I was asked to be an organizer for Rockland Poets. I was thrilled. Usually it means I work the door at open mics with another organizer and help set up the room. Sometimes it means I host an open mic or a slam, usually with another organizer (I get nervous by myself although I don’t usually get nervous when competing). I co-hosted this year’s partner slam at the beginning of the summer.

There are times I take breaks from competing because sometimes I think I get a little too obsessed with winning and that’s not the point. The point is to share our art and be with friends which is why I now enjoy open mics more than poetry slams now when it once was the other way around (we have one slam and one open mic a month). Plus no matter what the event is I always get inspired and write several poems the next day. I think slam poetry has made me a stronger writer. And a better person.