Performing Poetry
by Brynn Martin
July 11, 2016
When I was in high school, I hated poetry. “How,” you might be asking yourself, “does someone who hates poetry come to be a poet?” A large part of it has to do with discovering performance-based poetry. As a 17-year-old, seeing people my age perform their own writing with verve, passion, wit – well, I was transfixed. One of the most exciting things about performance poetry is its openness to diverse voices, manifold content, and creative approaches. The following list details just a few of the performances that have inspired me. It is by no means comprehensive – whittling it down to this was difficult, to say the least – and I hope it only whets your appetite for more. Several of these poems contain mature themes, but I hope you agree that these poets recognize the pain and difficulty of their material in artistic, inspiring, and moving ways.P.S. Thanks to Button Poetry for filming so many of the great performance poetry videos available online.
***
Phil Kaye, “Repetition” Phil Kaye has long been a favorite poet of mine; he is a talented writer and storyteller. This performance of his poem “Repetition” is as crisp as it is emotional while it explores the intertwining of language and relationships.
Franny Choi, “Choi Jeong Min” In this performance, Franny Choi delivers an impassioned response to Michael Derrick Hudson. She effortlessly weaves together a head-on address of racism in America with a reclaiming of her Korean heritage.
Cam Awkward-Rich, “Waiting in Line” This performance begins with a wry anecdote that seems universal in nature; as the poem builds, Cam Awkward-Rich’s talent as a storyteller drives the piece to a crescendo of social commentary on racism and violence.
Laura Lamb Brown-Lavoie, “Bean Meditation”
Using the language of her poem itself, Laura Lamb Brown-Lavoie involves the audience in a performance that is rich with rhythm, rhyme, and repetition. It is a charming piece that showcases just how much a poem can come to life in front of an audience.
Nkosi Nkululeko, “Not Finished Yet” At first, this performance seems to stall and stutter at the beginning, but it becomes clear that this is the poem and that Nkosi Nkululeko has cleverly subverted our expectations of spoken word performances. It’s a charismatic presentation of a poem that examines writing and identity.
Andrea Gibson, “Jellyfish” Andrea Gibson is a heavy-hitter in the spoken word community, known for her powerful performances. This one is a gentle love poem twisting with gorgeous images and unstoppable momentum.
Will Evans, “How to Find a Heaven You Don’t Deserve” In this poem on police brutality, racism, black masculinity, and fatherhood, Will Evans delivers a straightforward, heartbreaking performance. His “three-act play” features varied voices and experience as well as powerful images.
Anis Mojgani, “21 Thoughts on the Stereotype that All Brown People Are Terrorists” Anis Mojgani is another poet that I have adored for some time now – his work is full of humor, personality, wonder, and his performances are masterfully charismatic. This poem manages to uphold all of those markers while also making keen social commentary.
Doc Luben, “14 Lines from Love Letters or Suicide Notes” The side-by-side comparison of the language of love letters and suicide notes is both heart-wrenching and thought-provoking in this haunting poem by Doc Luben. He brings it all to life with his impressive performance.
Sam Sax, “Essay on Crying in Public” Sam Sax writes artful poetry and gives unforgettable performances; “Essay on Crying in Public” is no exception. In it, he addresses a lover who has cheated with poignant imagery and intense emotion.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Brynn Martin is a Kansas native living in Knoxville while she pursues her MFA in poetry. For Grist, she is both Assistant Poetry Editor and Social Media Editor. She also acts as Social Media Coordinator for Stirring: A Literary Collection. She loves ee cummings and cats almost equally.
