A Verbal Aesthetic: Notes on Spoken Word Poetry
I’ve written and performed dozens of spoken word poems, yet I can’t tell you in easy steps how to write any kind of poem, much less how to write a spoken word poem. Poetry, generally speaking, defies those kinds of recipes and instructions.
Plus, there are no hard-and-fast rules for spoken word poetry. Like poetry in general, spoken word poetry can’t be boxed-in.
Still, how to write spoken word is a concern for many would-be performers. So, I want to offer some notes, or general observations, on spoken word as a poetic style and form that tends to exhibit some particular artistic qualities.
The Importance of an Audience
Spoken word simply doesn’t exist without a live audience. In that sense, it depends upon its audience in a way that written poetry does not.
Slam, which is a popular and competitive form of spoken word, exemplifies this dependence. For a slam competition, random members of the audience are chosen to judge the quality of the content and the performance of the poems.
As such, slam is a democratic art form. The success (or failure) of a spoken word poem and its performance is how well it speaks to any random person and not necessarily someone “schooled” in poetry or even in spoken word. Slam, then, strives to speak to a wide range of diverse audiences.
The Power of Accessibility
Because spoken word relies so heavily on a live audience, it must somehow manage to speak itself in a way that makes its various images and metaphors easily apparent, or accessible to a listener. Sure, a lot of spoken word poems need to be heard several times to appreciate all the nuances of meanings. But its success depends upon being able to convey its meanings in a single performance.
Common Forms
While spoken word, like any poetry, takes on many different forms, it commonly relies on first-person narratives, or stories told about the poet’s personal experiences.
But it can use any form of narrative, such as third-person stories about other people’s experiences or persona poems, in which the poet takes on the guise of a different person.
Consider this poem by Minton Sparks who is well-known for her style of story-telling:
While narratives are a common form, spoken word isn’t limited to just stories. Poems that focus on general observations about people and events are also common.
For instance, this poem by Ernest Cline drives home its political and social critique by making humorous observations about human nature:
The Personal as Political
So much of spoken word is driven by the poet’s personal experience as well as by their political views. In that sense, politics as a personal issue is a common theme.
For instance, Meliza Banales utilizes her intimate experience to demonstrate a personal history of social and political oppression:
Spoken word, then, often personalizes politics in order to gain empathy from an audience. But it also often uses commentary about current political events in less personal ways, such as this poem by T. Miller:
Style
As T. Miller’s poem suggests, spoken word often, though certainly not always, utilizes complex and interesting rhymes. In this respect, it bears much in common with hip hop—so much so that very often audiences, drawing upon stereotypes of hip hop, often perceive spoken word to be narrower than it actually is. In other words, often people think of spoken word as primarily consisting of beats and rhyme which is not necessarily the case.
Yet, spoken word can use rhythm in some surprising ways.
Listen to this poem by Blair:
Stage vs. Page
Blair’s use of precise gestures and onomatopoeia begin to suggest the crucial ways in which spoken word poetry hinges on live performance.
As such, spoken word poems don’t necessarily translate well to the page, just as poetry written specifically to be read from the page doesn’t necessarily translate to performance poetry. This isn’t to say that spoken word poets aren’t concerned about how their poems look and read from the page, but to suggest that this isn’t necessarily a foremost concern.
The Performance of Spoken Word
As a verbal aesthetic intended for live audiences, spoken word poetry demonstrates a broader range of characteristics than I can discuss here.
While the poetry itself is complex, spoken word is a simple and raw form of performance as the poet emotes his or her original writings. Thus, it’s unique from other forms of stage theatre.
Commonly performed solo and without music or props, the performer is left with only his or her body, voice, and breath to convey the meanings of a poem.
Spoken word, then, is both a verbal aesthetic as well as a specific kind of performance art. And it’s only when these characteristics combine that one can make spoken word.
Writing Spoken Word
So, how do you write a successful spoken word poem? In many ways, you don’t write spoken word as much as you hear spoken word.
All poets have an inner voice that guides them in writing their poetry. Spoken word poets must be especially attune to this voice and attempt to make it interesting and compelling when spoken aloud.
If you want to write spoken word poetry, then the best place to begin is by listening to your own voice and to the voices of others.
In the simplest sense, spoken word is your own inner voice spoken aloud.
So, try to listen for natural rhythms and tones as well as those more stylized. And write from that place of deep listening.
What are your observations about spoken word poetry as an art form?
If you’ve enjoyed this article, then feel free to share it.
Flickr photo courtesy of eschipul
Share14 Responses to “A Verbal Aesthetic: Notes on Spoken Word Poetry”
Comments
Read below or add a comment...
Excellent post, Ami.
Someone recently asked what steps I go through to write a poem, which I found so difficult to answer because I don’t write in steps; poetry-writing isn’t mechanical or a process for me. I hear poems in my head before they reach the virtual page.
I think spoken word poetry is art and it’s a marvelous form of art. The most succesful spoken word artists, I think, have an intuitive sense of hearing, feeling the words; of how to emphasize, where to pause and for how long, and so much more that makes the experience of listening something whole and organic.
Maureen´s last [type] ..Contemplative Photography as an Act of Faith
[Reply]
Ami Mattison Reply:
February 10th, 2011 at 1:15 pm
Thank you, Maureen!
It’s so true that successful spoken word artists have an intuitive sense of words, how they sound and how they work together. I really love your description of listening as “whole and organic” and yes, that’s precisely what a spoken word poet wants to serve up. Something that makes the listener feel that what they’re hearing is first and foremost meant to be heard.
Thanks for sharing!
[Reply]
Just because you’re a talented writer does not mean you’ll be any good at actually reading the stuff aloud. I went to my first bona fide poetry reading today in over thirty years and left after a half hour. It was awful. But the main reason it was awful was the conditions. The section of the room that had been allocated was noisy – a heating unit or something I think he said – but on top of that a number of the poets opted not to use the mike and simply had no idea about how to project their voices so most of it was lost. Even those who used the microphone did so poorly. I was asked if I’d like to read but I declined. I don’t actually write my poetry to be read aloud. I sometimes do to ensure it flows but I write poetry to be read on the page and take time over the visuals which are, of course, lost during a reading. I don’t think there should be any difference between a poem written to be read on the page or one written to be read aloud: a good poem is a good poem and a bad poem is a bad poem. That said a good performance can rescue a mediocre piece I imagine.
Jim Murdoch´s last [type] ..The Story of Mr Sommer
[Reply]
Ami Mattison Reply:
February 10th, 2011 at 1:23 pm
You’re so right, Jim. A good poem is a good poem, whether spoken aloud or on the page. I was actually quoted once as saying just that. While a good performance might make up for a mediocre poem, a lot of audiences are quite shrewd around such things; they might respond politely, but what really gets folks going is a kick a– poem!
As for your terrible poetry reading, I’ve been to quite a few myself. Some poets have a hard time translating their work into something that’s interesting to hear. And whenever I hear a poet give an awful reading, all I can think is: Is that really how you hear your own poem?!
Thanks for sharing!
[Reply]
ami…great post…i am relatively new to spoken word/slam…a few resources that helped me along the way…Spoken Word Revolution, and the Redux as well as Book of Rhymes (on hip hop but certainly applies)…the biggest thing that changed for me in the last 6 months is paying attention to how what i write sounds…colorful language has come easy for me…i can make it pretty, but can i make it sound pretty…the other is listening to others, there is a certain cadence to spoken word, where you put the emphasis, how you perform it…i thoroughly enjoy it and i continue to work at it…the first time i spoke one i was scared, even though i have stood in front of people all my life…but found the community to be very welcoming…for many i think that first step is opening their mouth and giving it a try…
brian´s last [type] ..55 – this is just a test- if it was an actual emergency
[Reply]
Ami Mattison Reply:
February 17th, 2011 at 3:14 pm
Thanks for stopping by, Brian! And thanks for offering some resources. You’ve honed-in on what I believe are the most important aspects of writing and performing spoken word–focusing on sound in one’s own work and listening to others. Spoken word must first and foremost be appealing to the listener. And we can learn so much from listening to other poets. But I also learn a lot by simply listening to way people around me talk. Finally, that first time was scary for me too, but as you suggest, it’s simply a matter of opening one’s mouth and giving it a try. Thanks for sharing your experience!
[Reply]
Ami,
I found your articles very interesting to read. Recently I experienced my first personal reading and it was like the first time a wave hits you in the ocean. It didn’t knock me down and cause me to leave, but it made me aware of the power it contains. I was wondering if you would want to read a few of my poems on my website and let me know what you think? Regardless, your post was very helpful!
Benj Warren
[Reply]
Ami Mattison Reply:
February 17th, 2011 at 3:30 pm
Hey, Benj! I’m glad you found the articles interesting. And congratulations on your first reading! Every time I perform, I’m blown away by how powerful the experience is. One great resource for sharing your poetry with others is One Shot Wednesday at One Stop Poetry. You simply link up your poem to the site, browse other people’s poetry and leave comments. In turn, other poets may check out your poetry and leave comments as well. I may not have the time to check out your poetry, but you can certainly send me the link via email, and I’ll try to get to it. You’ll find my email address at the bottom of my About page. Thanks for sharing!
[Reply]
Dear Ami,
Your writing is extremely encouraging for a learner like me. Four years back, when I joined a college, I knew a space like that wasn’t one for me. Born to storytellers (both parents in film and theatre), I grew up in editing studios and back stage at theatres. I was struggling to find what helps me learn and what lets me do what I really love, write. I am a person stuck to storytelling, unfortunately as 22 year old having to survive in the corner of urban South India, I am also stuck to survival. So, I have tripped, fallen and always reached at a juncture with storytelling as my way to be, my way of thinking, my way of living. Now, I am attempting to learn different forms of short narrative storytelling. A personal exercise I gave myself. Similarly, I set a spoken word challenge not knowing much about it other than my mother’s theatre work and many other feminist theatre people here. Anyway, I am so glad I found your site after so much research. Because I feel at home here.
Lots of love and gratitude for your work.
Regards,
Samyuktha PC
[Reply]
Excellent post, Ami! These artists are brilliant. Spoken Word like any art stands in originality and how we put ourselves in the story. Thank you. Great work.
Sam.
[Reply]
I fell in love with poetry after reading Shel Silvestein and some Emily Dickinson poems when I was a child. I could actually imagine their poems performed-well, some of them.
The reason I am saying this is because everyone has a poem inside them and all of them will not be “spoken Word” material. They are for sight only. I know some seasoned poets could hear a newbie(a newbie like me) and count them as illiterate pipsqueaks-scary! But hey, we all began somewhere.
Anyway, off my soapbox and on to writing more poems. Awesome site by the way!
[Reply]
I’m glad I found this article.
I’m very, very new to spoken word and really don’t know much about it. I’m interested in getting started, but I am not at all a poet nor do I write much. The reason I say this is because a lot of people associate spoken word to poetry, but that’s not honestly how I see it. I have some ideas but they are very minimalistic in terms of actually speaking and rely more on actions with audience participation (from which most of the speaking will come, i’m just the director standing in front of everyone).
The question I have is whether or not this is actually performance art rather then spoken word. If so, is there a place for this in this arena or should I look elsewhere?
Odd question, I know, but i’m not really an actor, artist or poet. I spent years playing in a band and know how to get up in front of people and even ad lib. I also spent some time in commercial radio, I know what it’s like to open up a mic and talk coherently and with some personality. However, this is a different animal, i’m just not sure if my ideas are in the right direction for this venue.
Thoughts?
[Reply]
Everything you’ve spoken about is exactly what my unsure sentiments were about spoken. So in confirming my thoughts you’ve added to my confidence to be able to effectively perform spoken word. Thank you very much.
[Reply]
Honestly, this is a wonderful piece. Just what I was searching for!
[Reply]