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25+ Slam Poems Appropriate for Middle School and High School

March 22, 2017 by Jeanne Wolz 17 Comments

Interested in using slam poetry examples in your classroom, but not sure which poem would best?  I’ve got you.

Slam poetry is a little bit of an obsession of mine, and as a teacher that has taught grades 6-12 ELA, I’m always scrolling through slam poems to find ones that are both inspiring, awesome, and appropriate for the age group.  It’s hard to keep track of which ones are and which ones aren’t, so FINALLY, here’s a list of ones that are tried and true.

If you want ideas for how to use them, check out my introduction to slam poetry lesson plan  here.  The lesson could be appropriate for all ages.

Looking for a Slam Poetry Unit Plan? Click here! It’s on sale!!–>

Slam poems that may be appropriate for middle or high school classrooms:

Depending on your school, these next one might be a little intense, inappropriate, or advanced for middle school.  BUT, all are definitely grounds for high school, and definitely still awesome:

Definitely inappropriate for my middle school, though they blow me away.  Perhaps ok for high school:

This is just a start, but please, comment with more suggestions! I’m always looking for more!

Want some more help teaching slam poetry?  I’ve got you covered. Check out these other resources:

You might also be interested in:

If you haven’t grabbed your Slam Poetry Unit Plan yet, what are you doing? Seriously, it’s on sale now, go grab it! 166 pages of slam poetry goodness that your students won’t just love, but grow in all those meaningful, I-am-powerful-hear-me-roar ways.  Go get it, go get it!

Like the idea of using slam poetry in the classroom, but not ready for 3 weeks of it?  This  Slam Poetry Mini-Unit  takes students through brainstorming, drafting, planning, and performing a meaningful slam poem, all in ONE week.  It’s the perfect chunk of lessons to add slam poetry into a poetry unit, or to fill a week with engaging, meaningful content for students.

You’d probably also like this Peer Conference/Feedback lesson plan .  It’s good to use for ANY type of writing and designed to lift both student’s academic conversations and writing.  Swoon.

Also these FREE resources:

Want to get your feet wet?  Try this Slam Poetry Day One: Speak Your Truth  for free. It’s the perfect lesson to kick off your poetry or slam poetry unit with a meaningful bang.

20 Ways to Help Reluctant Writers in your Classroom –a list of ways you can make your classroom more friendly to students reluctant to write, as well as trouble-shooting ideas for students who refuse to write.

How to Teach Students to Own that Speech –a lesson plan I’ve also adapted for teaching Slam Poetry, this is the perfect lesson before your slam poetry competition.

Teaching Writing Pinterest Board –My spot to collect all the most useful resources I can find for teaching writing–if you like this post, you’re sure to like this collection.

ELA Resources Pinterest Board –A collation of engaging, best-practice resources for ELA teachers.

My Teachers Pay Teachers Store –If you liked this, you’re sure to like resources in my store. I’ve taught writing for grades 6, 7, 8, 10, and 12, so teaching writing is my store’s specialty!

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Love your suggestions! Below are some others I use.

21 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LnMhy8kDiQ

To the boy who may someday date my daughter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcIwZ1Dth0c

I wanna hear a poem https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRsITgjBsLs

S for lisp (language; skip 1:17-1:28; s-word at 2:35) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GvTLfV8fls (parts have to be skipped for appropriateness.

Awesome, Katie–I hope they are useful! And thanks so much for sharing those. Can’t wait to watch and add to the list!

Thank you so much for this list! These offerings will definitely inspire my 8th graders. I’ve also used this one: A Muslim and Jewish girl’s bold poetry slam

Thank YOU for the new poem; I will definitely check it out. And I’m so glad! Thanks for reaching out!

Awesome–thanks for the share! I will check those out!

Great resources shared. Truly appreciative.

Hi Timeka, I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed them! I hope they can be useful for you. Best, Jeanne

Good stuff!

Hello! This list and your unit has been SUPER HELPFUL! From the Louder than a Bomb film, Nate Marshall – ‘LOOK’ is fantastic. I think one bad word, but the tonal change halfway through is amazing.

Adam—thanks so much for the feedback! It makes my day to hear! And thanks for the tip on “Look”—I’m always looking for more. Nate Marshall is awesome. I’ll check it out and may add it to my slam poetry email list. Thanks again!

F bomb warning on White Privilege would be good:) (though it is a wonderful poem)

Biracial Hair by Zora Howard and High School Training Ground by Malcolm London are also good.

Check out Day Two by Kevin Burke. Blows me away every time I hear.

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25 Slam Poetry Examples (Plus Explanation and History)

Exciting, interactive, and inspiring for all ages.

Poetry has come a long way since Horatian odes and Shakespearean sonnets. While these types of poems can be a hard sell in the classroom, other forms might inspire a little more excitement. Our suggestion? Include slam poetry examples in your lesson plans! This unique performance art can really help you meet kids where they are and teach them that poetry is as relevant today as it was hundreds of years ago.

What is slam poetry?

This spoken-word performance art seeks to bring a new life and excitement to poetry. Poets perform their poems in front of audiences at competitive events called poetry slams. They do more than just read their poem—they turn it into a high-energy performance with movement, storytelling, and other theatrical elements. Authors may perform on their own or with a larger group.

Often, the poems used at these events are specifically written to be performed. The topics are diverse, frequently political, and thought-provoking. Slam poets want their audiences to feel an emotional response, whether positive or negative. Cheers and calls fill the room as the audience expresses their opinions, making the experience interactive for everyone.

Is slam poetry a poetry genre?

It’s worth noting that not everyone considers “slam poetry” to be a genre of its own. Founder Marc Kelly Smith once said, “There is no such thing as slam poetry. There is only the poetry slam.” In other words, any poem can be performed at a poetry slam without necessarily being specifically written as slam poetry.

That being said, this form of poetry has taken off in such a dynamic way that many sources now consider “slam poetry” to be its own genre . When using this term with students, you may want to share that any poem performed at a slam could be called “slam poetry,” but not everyone considers that term valid.

How did slam poetry start?

In the 1960s, beat poets like Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg introduced a new performance style that caught on with the younger crowd. In the 1980s, a man named Marc Kelly Smith took that concept and brought it a new audience. He was a Chicago poet who wanted shake up the stuffy, academic image of poetry, making it more accessible to everyone. The first National Poetry Slam took place in 1990, and the medium has remained popular ever since.

Why should I use slam poetry with my students?

If your kids roll their eyes when you embark on a poetry unit, try including slam poetry videos or performances in your curriculum. This genre really turns student expectations upside down! Here are a few reasons you should be teaching it:

• Slam poetry is diverse and inclusive. Poetry slams draw people of all types, and students are more likely to see themselves represented.
• The experience is interactive, for both poets and the audience. Kids often think of poetry as quiet and boring, and poetry slams are anything but!
• It gives students a way to explore emotional and intense topics. Many poems performed at slams address political or social themes, encouraging students to tap into their emotions and consider others’ points of view.
• Slam poetry engages multiple learning styles. Reading, writing, performance, storytelling, discussion, and more … it’s all here.
• It’s fun! Seriously, this is like nothing kids have seen before.

The best way to understand a poetry slam is to see it in action. Check out the inspiring examples below to learn more. Note: Poems performed at slams often address heavy political or social topics. Always view videos in advance to make sure they’re appropriate for your audience.

Slam Poetry Examples by Kids and Teens

When your students tell you that only adults can write poems, prove them them wrong with these terrific examples of slam poetry by kids just like them. Some are on lighter subjects, terrific for introducing the concept to little ones. Others tackle the social injustices and political subjects that slam poetry is known for.

I Am a Poem!

Saverio doesn’t just love poems—he is a poem. His clever use of language and poetry terms reminds students that they can find themselves in any literature genre or style. They just have to look.

Soccer Is an Awesome Sport

Slam poetry truly comes to life when you hear it out loud. Riya’s simple poem about soccer abounds with energy through her delivery and excitement.

Here’s another example of how delivery sets slam poems apart from the rest. These young poets share their thoughts on cats in a way that will make you laugh … and make you think. They subvert expectations, which is what good art is all about.

Where I’m From

This brief but inspiring poem from 11-year-old Ruben captures one child’s life in a few short verses. This is a great way to encourage your students to write their own slam poem using the phrase “Where I’m From.”

Mathematical Blues

Here’s a topic so many kids can relate to: the challenges of math class. The rhyme and rhythm here are great, and the words sum up what lots of this young poet’s peers are thinking every day.

Notes to Beauty

Mel and Alana know that beauty comes in so many different forms, and their poem celebrates them all. Their pop culture references help kids connect with the topic, while their straightforward delivery draws the audience in from the start.

When you’re a teen, you think a lot about growing up. Sometimes you feel so much older and long for childhood. Other times, you feel so young, too young, and wish for more. Anthony’s slam poetry performance captures all these feelings in a way anyone can relate to.

Why Am I Not Good Enough?

Seventh grader Olivia wrote and performed this poem for a class project. Her central theme, “Why am I not good enough?” asks a universal question that so many teens grapple with every day.

Sixteen-year-old Chris Loos uses his slam performance to express what it feels like to live with ADHD, OCD, and other “mental disorders.” This powerful piece will speak directly to other students like him. Plus, it will open the minds of those who can’t imagine what it feels like to live this way every day.

Kids These Days

These kids are tired of being labeled, stereotyped, and overgeneralized, especially when it comes to their use of technology. Their performance celebrates the advantages they feel technology is giving their generation, and encourages adults to do the same.

“They tell me I’m not Mexican,” Leticia says. But her poem spells out all the ways she embraces and values her background and culture. Regardless of your students’ ethnicities, they’ll see themselves in this search for identity.

A Jewish Girl and a Muslim Girl

Amina and Hannah come from different religions and cultures, but their poem performance celebrates the common ground they share. It’s full of both despair and hope, making connections that unite them.

Somewhere in America

Anger, despair, and fear pour out through the words in this powerful performance. Belissa, Rhiannon, and Zariya ask important questions about American values with an intensity that draws in every viewer. This one is written and performed by kids, but it addresses adult-level topics.

All Lives Matter, but …

Like much slam poetry, Royce’s piece attacks a social and political subject: Black Lives Matter. Viewers feel his anger and fear through his words and his delivery.

Levi gave himself a black eye trying to do a somersault. For days, people told him he should make up a better story, like being in a bar fight. He uses his slam poetry performance to fight back against toxic masculinity. (Some PG-13 language.)

Slam Poetry Examples by Adults

These slam poems include award winners and those by famous poets. The topics are often challenging and the language intense, so some of these might be best saved for teens in high school lit classes.

Alexander Hamilton

OK, first things first: This isn’t exactly slam poetry. Slam poetry generally doesn’t include music made with instruments. But Lin-Manuel Miranda’s original performance of the opening number of the smash musical Hamilton was obviously inspired by the genre. Note that there’s very little singing—it’s all about the rhyme, rhythm, and flow of the words. You could remove the music, and the impact would be very much the same.

My Father’s Coat

Marc Kelly Smith is often considered the founder of the slam poetry movement. Watch him perform one of his most well-known poems, a thought-provoking piece about whether a father’s coat really fits his son.

Harry Baker’s slam poetry uses puns and humor to tell poignant stories. In this one, prime number 59 stops yearning after perfect 60 and falls in love with 61, a prime example of a love story.

What Kind of Asian Are You?

Alex Yang knows what it feels like to be lumped together, to have his individuality stripped away. He shares those feelings and experiences in this intense slam poetry performance.

Sarah Kay is a well-known poet, sometimes performing with her partner, Phil Kaye (no relation). In this work, she calls herself the most unreliable of narrators, noting that she constantly lies to herself. “I am the center of my own dramatic universe,” she notes. What teen can’t relate to that?

To This Day

Shane’s captivating poem about bullying took the world by storm. He edited his original TED Talk performance video to use in school talks. ( If you’d like to see the whole thing, find it here. )

Totally Like Whatever, You Know

Taylor Mali wonders when we stopped speaking with conviction and turned everything into a question. Your students will definitely recognize themselves in the speech patterns of this poem, and it might just change the way they think—and talk. (Mali is a former classroom teacher, by the way, and educators will connect with his poem What Teachers Make .)

My Honest Poem

What starts out as a list of facts turns into a deeper look at identity. Rudy Francisco’s poems are powerful but relatable, and many of them are great for the classroom.

Before he starts his poem, Nkosi Nkululeko has a few thoughts to share. And then a few more. And a few more after that …

Ode to Sister

If your students still aren’t sure about slam poetry, remind them about Brandon Leake, who ultimately won the 2020 season of America’s Got Talent with his incredible compositions. Here’s his initial audition, which even Simon Cowell couldn’t criticize.

Do poetry slams have rules?

Though different events may set their own rules, here are some of the common guidelines of poetry slams .

• Any style of poetry is acceptable, but the author generally must be involved in performing their own poem.
• There’s no need to memorize your poem, though many do. Poets are welcome to use notes on paper or in digital form.
• Poem performances are usually limited to three minutes or less.
• No props or costumes are allowed, although you may dress in a way that matches the theme or mood of your poem.
• Performances cannot include pre-recorded music or sound effects or musical instruments. However, the performer is welcome to add their own sounds by beatboxing, singing, clapping, or using their body in other ways.

How are competitions judged?

Poetry slams are often judged competitions, each with its own rules. Usually a panel of judges is chosen in advance. They may be people with expertise in poetry, or they could just be people from the audience. The judges award scores, often on a scale of 1 to 10. (In some competitions, they drop the highest and lowest scores.) These individual scores are added together to give a final score. The highest score wins the competition.

How do I hold a poetry slam?

Thinking of holding your own slam? Go for it! Just remember that not all students are comfortable performing in front of their peers. Plus, be sure to offer some guidance to the audience on constructive ways to offer their feedback. These resources can help:

• How To Host Your Own Schoolwide Poetry Slam
• Poetry4Kids : How To Host a Poetry Slam
• Become a Writer Today : How To Poetry Slam—A Detailed Guide

Looking for more ways to inspire students with poetry? Check out 15 Types of Poetry To Share With Kids (Plus Examples of Each) .

Plus, get all the latest teaching tips and ideas, straight to your inbox, when you sign up for our free newsletters .

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200+ Unique Poem Ideas and Prompts To Help Kids and Teens Get Started

Light the creative spark! Continue Reading

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by Michelle Boyd Waters, M.Ed.  

10 Best Slam Poems for High School Students

April 3, 2022 in  Pedagogy

Note: Check out our slam poems for middle school , too!

Every year I want to write posts sharing my favorite poems for National Poetry Month. But unfortunately, every year, April is also national testing month and I get so caught up in juggling testing and grading and planning and taking care of my students that I just don't have the bandwidth left to write about poetry until sometime in June. And then it's too late.

But because I have stepped out of the classroom this year, and am taking a Creativity in Composition class again, I can actually thing through this. So I chose a my 10 favorite poems from my YouTube poetry playlist and am sharing them here. Since some of these poems cover tough subjects (that might make someone feel something) I am putting all of these in a post for high school students. In the next few days, I'll write one for middle school students, too.

Before you step into your classroom tomorrow, listen to Episode #010 of the RTE Podcast: " Fostering Student-Led Discussions with the TQE Method. " While I have primarily recommended this method of analysis for novels and short stories, it will work on poetry, as well.

In no particular order, here are the 10 best slam poems I recommend for your high school students:

Looking for a point and counterpoint, perhaps for an argumentative unit? Watch Taylor Mali's "Like Totally Whatever, You Know?" and then watch Melissa Lozado-Oliva take him down with her " Like Totally Whatever " version written through a feminist lens. Check out the allusion to "Legally Blonde" at 2:29. Be aware that Melissa's version includes one expletive at the 1:14 mark. TW: Sexual violence referred to at 1:25.

In " Native Tongue ," Micah Bournes questions why it was okay for Shakespeare to invent more than 1,700 words we still use today, creatively change the meaning and usage of words, but when young Black people do the same thing, they are considered uneducated -- but are still emulated. you can read the lyrics here .

In " Mine Eyes are Lean " playwright Ins Choi shines light on the inequalities and invisibility faced by Asian American actors in the United States.

I first watched " Shrinking Women " by Lily Myers after losing 40 pounds and running a few 5K races in my mid-40s. I'm still not sure how I feel about this, but perhaps this slam poem will be meaningful to the quiet young women sitting in your classes.

In " When Love Arrives " Sarah Kaye and Phil Kaye knew what love looked like in the seventh grade. But then love decided to throw in a plot twist over the years. Note: A minor expletive is used at the 2:51 mark (just another word for poop, in this context).

The Philadelphia team perform " Letter to My Future White Son " at the 2015 Brave New Voices finals.

Malcolm London's " High School Training Ground " critiques his experience in schools and how they are microcosms of our society. In this TED Talk slam poem, he tells the story of "oceans of adolescence" who come to school "but never learn to swim," of "masculinity mimicked by men who grew up with no fathers."

Perhaps some of the references (Blu-Ray) in this 2011 slam poem, " Touchscreen " by Marshall Davis Jones, are dated, but the message that we're too plugged into our digital worlds and not our physical worlds is still relevant today. Judging from the comments on YouTube, apparently students and other English teachers agree.

In " Disorder ," Chris Loos shines a light on the experiences of boys who have been labeled and medicated since they were young children.

I first discovered Taylor Mali while judging a humorous interpretation event at a high school speech competition in Norman, Oklahoma. A student performed a compilation including a couple of his poems and I fell in love "What Teachers Make." While the SlamNation video is much funnier, in my opinion, the video in the left column is much more school appropriate.

A fellow graduate student in my Creativity in Composition class at The University of Oklahoma shared this slam poem by Dylan Garrity called " Rigged Game ." Garrity does an excellent job of pointing out the ills in our education system -- so good that we spent much of our class time discussing the problems we see and the solutions we wish we could implement. I think your students will have a lot to say or write, as well.

While " Changing the World, One Word at a Time! " was first performed in 2014, the message was still relevant when I first discovered it and shared it with my students in 2017. Perhaps it's even more relevant today with the censorship we are facing in several states. Personally, I think the Brave New Voices version is more dramatic, but it includes the F word.

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Related topics: Slam Poetry , Student Engagement

About the author 

Michelle Boyd Waters, M.Ed.

I am a secondary English Language Arts teacher, a University of Oklahoma student working on my doctorate in Instructional Leadership and Academic Curriculum with an concentration in English Education and co-Editor of the Oklahoma English Journal. I am constantly seeking ways to amplify students' voices and choices.

Tips from an Expert

Getting it Right

Making it Sound Right

What is Slam Poetry?

Performance poetry is written to be performed and uses poetic devices that hold the ear more than the eye. ​

Here are some general features that many slam poems have in common:

• Most poems are around 2 minutes long (with a 30 second grace period).
• Must be an original work.
• Easy to understand the first time it is heard.
• Rhythmic, passionate and has a “rise” (climax).
• With themes + subjects many people can relate to, e.g. Relationships, Politics, Religion, Insecurity, Family or Social issues.
• Makes a clear statement or point.
• How the poem is performed is at least as important as the content.

Paraphrased from the presentation:  Popularising poetry for teachers .

Start Slamming...

6 steps for writing a slam poem….

• Do Your Homework.

To know what makes slam poetry effective, you need to see a lot of it performed. Head to YouTube.com, type in "slam poetry videos" and you'll be amazed by the quantity, quality, and variety that you’ll find. Take notes on which slam poems you like best and why they made an impression.

• Choose a Topic. 

Identify an issue that evokes a passion in you. Perhaps you're determined to do whatever you can to fight animal cruelty or convince your teachers that school stifles creativity. When you're fired up, emotions and words are more likely to flow out of you.

• Put Your Words on Paper.

Use your five senses to create a first draft. Write down what you see, hear, taste, touch, and smell when you think about your topic. Details are key when it comes to painting a vivid picture through slam poetry, so always ask yourself: "could I be more specific?" For instance, instead of writing "I drank a glass of water," write "I sipped on an ice-cold glass of water with a pinch of lemon that was so tart, it made me cringe." Craft your words into short stanzas that lend themselves to a natural rhythm and feel free to use rhyme if you feel like it.

• Edit yourself. 

When editing, read your poem out loud. If you find yourself stumbling over certain lines that are clunky or too long, that's when you know that a section probably needs to be cut, changed, or moved. It may help to use a thesaurus if you're looking for synonyms to replace certain words.

• Add a Little Drama. 

Remember, you're not just reading your poem out loud—you're performing! The goal is to get the audience to audibly react (i.e. laugh, cry, gasp, snap, clap, yell "yeah!") to increase your score. So look for ways to increase the drama. Are there moments where you can whisper or shout? Are there places where you can speed up or slow down? Can you throw in facial expressions or bodily movements to illustrate your main messages?

• Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse.

Know your poem and then sign up for a local poetry slam! Note: Most slams do not require you to memorize your poem, but you might want to. When you don't have to hold a piece of paper, you can look directly at the audience and use your hands as tools during the performance, which will give you a competitive edge.

Adapted from https://www.powerpoetry.org/actions/how-write-slam-poetry

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31 Engaging Poems for High School English Class

May 1, 2019 //  by  Lindsay Ann //   5 Comments

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As an English teacher, I know the feeling of trying to find poems for high school English classes that engage students and  allow me to teach important skills. We all know if students are  interested, that’s half of the battle, am I right? These poems to analyze are suggestions for your classroom based on student engagement in my own classes. If something works, I want to share it!

I don’t buy into the whole “teenagers hate poetry” angle. Oh, we’d better brace ourselves…there’s  poetry coming. No. On the contrary, I find poetry to be accessible, a starting place to teach students to analyze and respond to complex texts. Before I assume the problem is my students, I must ask about my approach and about the poems I’m feeding them.

Check it out: Jason Reynolds claims that poetry can help students love literature.

How to Analyze Poems with High school Students

The method you use to guide students in a reading and/or analysis of a poem depends on your class and goals for the lesson. What skills are you currently working on? How does this poem fit into the larger scope of your unit?  Maybe you want to use a more inquiry-driven, organic approach to poetry analysis (my favorite), or maybe your students need a little bit more focus and structure. Here are a few of my favorite strategies for in-class poetry analysis.

Poetry Reading & Analysis Strategies

Guided reading of a poem:.

For this approach, read the poem aloud with students following along. Give students something specific to mark the text for, and pause for paired or group discussions. You want to move students from basic comprehension to noticing organization and style. This strategy flows well into color-coding a poem for meaningful diction, imagery, and figurative language. I find that it’s best to take an “I notice… I wonder…” approach, avoiding prescriptive “teaching” of poems for high school students. You want to, through guided reading and marking the text, allow students to “discover” meaning, using inquiry and questioning to draw out how the details contribute to bigger meaning.

Choose ONE & Argue:

Once you’ve chosen poems for high school students to analyze, it can be tempting to focus on EVERYTHING. Slow your roll. This is how teachers can ruin poetry (or any reading, for that matter) for students. Sometimes, less is more. Read the poem, asking students to mark only ONE detail in each stanza (or choose a number of lines to read before pausing). This strategy works because if forces students to consider what the most important  detail in each stanza or line range is. Then, discussion flows naturally as students have to defend their choices by explaining  why.

TPCASTT (An Oldie, but Goodie):

This well-known strategy for poetry analysis is like a multi-layered sandwich, asking students to consider the meaning of the title, paraphrase parts of the poem in their own words, think about words and their connotations or implied meanings, think about the author / reader’s attitude (a.k.a. mood and tone), think through any shifts in meaning, tone, etc., and then return to re-consider the title and its meaning.

Write the Gist (A Summary Strategy):

This strategy works well for both poetry and longer fiction / nonfiction texts. The idea is that students will chunk the text (stanza divisions work naturally for this purpose). After reading each chunk, ask students to write a one sentence summary of that portion of the text. In the end, ask students to put their sentences together for a full summary of the text. This is a great way to talk about interesting details and overall meaning and message as well as summary-writing skills. A great next step that builds from this strategy is the Summary-Response strategy. After writing a clear and representative summary of the poem, students will write a journal response. You can have them write off of a line from the poem, write to the author of the poem, write about a theme or idea in the poem, or write about personal / societal connections to the poem.

Mentor Text Response:

One of my favorite ways to use poems, for high school classes, (and slam poetry ) is to have students read, discuss in Socratic seminar , and write their own emulations. Poems are great mentor texts! This also prompts organic discussion about figurative language, word choice, and style.

QFT (An Inquiry Strategy):

This strategy is fun, and comes with rules.

• As a small group, come up with as many questions as you can in the next 5 minutes!
• Use the FULL time!
• Write each question down on a post-it note.
• Do not stop to answer, judge, or discuss the questions.
• Write down every question exactly as it is stated.
• Change any statement into a question. 

The premise of this strategy is that students need to be given the time and space to ask questions. Students, in small groups (3-4) read the poem together. Then, arm each group with a stack of sticky notes and make sure they’re aware of (and follow) norms. Set the timer, and tell students to generate as many questions as possible about the poem in that amount of time. If you wish, you can set this up in a couple different rounds, progressing from general questions about the text to more specific questions about the text. For the second round, you would set the timer again (a smaller time frame, perhaps) and give a more specific focus such as “author’s style” or “figurative language.” You can even use a picture or short video to prompt a new round of question-asking. Then, when students have brainstormed, have them sort the questions. You can sort by open vs. closed-ended questions, you can have them determine which questions are higher-level vs. lower-level, or you can have them sort by which questions are most interesting vs. predictable.

At this point, you may want to have each student choose 1-2 questions to answer for homework.

You could also have each group set a discussion agenda by choosing a certain number of thought-provoking questions to discuss on the next day of class. You could have each group post top questions to a Padlet and use this to springboard whole-class discussion and/or journal response to the poem. 

Can you tell I love this strategy?!

EPIC LIST: POEMS FOR HIGH SCHOOL

This list of poems for high school English class contains some of my favorites, giving a mix of styles and movements, but with an emphasis on ideas that engage. Themes that resonate with students, poems that are written in accessible, yet “cool” ways…these are the poems I love. Students can relate to these poems because of their honesty, thematic ideas, and universal truths. What’s more, these poems work well with the strategies above, as well as  reading stations in the English classroom .

• Tattoo by Ted Kooser → This poem almost went “all the way” in my March Madness poetry competition. Students liked the straightforward nature of the poem, but also discussed the symbolic meaning of a “tattoo” and how our experiences are unseen tattoos. Also, they discussed quite well the human tendency to pass judgment, talking about the perspective of the narrator in th e poem.
• Wheels by Jim Daniels → The idea of moving forward instead of staying stuck in the past is an idea that teenagers can get behind, especially my sophomores who are eager to say goodbye to their childhood and take on increasing responsibilities and freedoms. You’ll want to call students’ attention to the author’s use of syntax, alliteration, and repetition.
• Loud Music by Stephen Dobyns → For most of my students, music = life, so this poem about how music is the universal human language is one they enjoy. You’ll want to call students’ attention to the author’s use of line divisions, similes, and the symbolism in the last four lines.
• Do not go gentle into that good night by Dylan Thomas → The rhythm of this poem makes it one of my favorites, with the focus centering around life vs. death. Students grasp the light symbolism immediately and enjoy unpacking this poem.
• Ode to Dirt by Sharon Olds → A nature poem at its core, with lovely and thought-provoking metaphors, by the time one is finished reading it, reflection turns to deeper issues such as the equality of humans despite their differences and the never-ending circle of life.
• Gee, You’re So Beautiful That It’s Starting to Rain by Richard Brautigan → This poem is about so much more than Marcia’s beauty which is what students will want to discuss at first read-through. Draw students’ attention to the simile and use of assonance in lines 4-5 to establish a tone.
• How to Listen by Major Jackson → This poem’s opening line simile helps students to envision the idea of attentive listening that Major Jackson wants to emphasize. Students should notice repetition and polysyndeton and think about the meaning in the small details of each day.
• Happiness by Jane Kenyon → Personification is used artfully in this poem to make the abstract idea of happiness come to life. Interestingly, it is not human in search of happiness in the first part of the poem, but happiness in search of human. Students should also notice the shift in the end of the poem to show the universality of happiness, how it comes to everyone. The question is, will it be recognized and received, and in what form will it show up?
• Eating Poetry by Mark Strand → In this poem, consuming poetry changes the narrator and brings out his wild side. Students should consider the role of the librarian vs. the narrator. What is the difference between being surrounded by words and being changed by them?
• “Hope” is the thing with feathers by Emily Dickinson → Emily Dickinson takes the abstract idea of “hope” and compares it to a bird, emphasizing that hope endures.
• Honest Poem by Rudy Francisco → This is one of my favorite poems for high school students! A quirky confessional, this poem appeals to listeners because it is authentic. While this poem appeals at a gut-level, there is also symbolic significance to a lot of the speaker’s confessions.
• When Giving is All We Have by Alberto Ríos → This poem celebrates that people are united through generosity, making the world a better place.
• Miracles by Walt Whitman → This poem has religious undertones as the author speaks to the fact that all aspects of creation are miraculous. Life is a miracle.
• In a Station of the Metro by Ezra Pound → At just two lines, this poem still packs a punch. You may want to introduce students to the idea of an “ Imagist ” poem. The driving image in this poem is anonymous faces as fallen petals. Consider how the author uses hard sounds, why a nature image is chosen for such an industrial location, and why faces are described as apparitions.
• From  Milk & Honey by Rupi Kaur → It’s hard to pick a favorite from this work that combines illustration with poetry. Click on the link to grab a copy of these poems for your high school classroom library or do a Google image search to find your favorites.
• The Black Santa by Allison Joseph and/or The Death of Santa Claus by Charles Harper Webb → Depending on your audience, one or the other Santa poem might work better (or have students read them both!).
• Drum Dream Girl by Margarita Engle → This poem is inspired by a real life girl who defied Cuba’s taboo against female drummers. It’s a poem that’s easy to read and appreciate, to read and discuss gender and equality.
• One Today by Richard Blanco → This poem was written for and shared at Barack Obama’s Inauguration. As such, it has themes of patriotism and celebrates the “everyday” Americans’ power as a collective whole – WE are the light, and the bonds of citizenship unite us.
• Manifesto of the Lyric Selfie by Becca Klaver → This poem explores the impact of selfishness, suggesting that looking inward is unnatural and results in destruction.
• The Facebook Sonnet by Sherman Alexie → Along the same lines as the last poem, this poem questions the value of social media, claiming that it pulls us into the past, causes us to act fake, and blurs the line between public and private. Though most students don’t use Facebook, this poem is applicable to whatever social media is popular for them.
• Fifth Grade Autobiography by Rita Dove → This poem is written about a photo. A great assignment for students is to write about a photo from their own childhood, thinking about the details that are both seen and unseen in the image / moment.
• If They Should Come for Us by Fatima Asghar → This poem is particularly relevant in today’s society. The author creates parallels to the Holocaust, helping the reader to question the impact of ignoring history’s lessons. Students may need to look up unfamiliar language, and you’ll want to ask them why the author might have chosen NOT to use punctuation or capitalization.
• America by Claude McKay → This poem is written in the form of a Shakespearean rhyming sonnet, with three quatrains and a couplet. It is interesting to consider the author’s depiction of how he is in an abusive relationship with America.
• Digging by Seamus Heaney → The author of the poem digs into his family history and uses sounds artfully. It is interesting to consider how the author continues his family tradition of farming, except with difference. He digs into the soil of words and grows ideas.
• At the Gym by Mark Doty → This poem takes a commonplace activity, going to the gym, and springboards to deeper ideas such as the human desire for power and control, vanity, and vulnerability in the face of burdens.
• Still I Rise   by Maya Angelou → This is a poem of empowerment, one that has rhythm and interest, that sets up tension between the speaker and the audience as the speaker “rises” above obstacles and judgments. Click on the link if you need some ready-to-go lesson plans and resources pairing this poem with Tupac’s song by the same name.
• Nothing Gold Can Stay by Robert Frost → This short little rhyming poem comes full circle, returning by the last line to the opening image of “gold.” There is an allusion to Eden, and the overall idea that perfection and beauty are temporary in the face of time and nature.
• Common Things by Christopher Kondrich → Is it a statue or a commentary on gun laws? The author uses 10 “common things” to comment on life vs. death and humans as weapons.
• Lies I Tell by Sara Borjas → This is a prose poem about the stories we like to tell ourselves. Truth is relative.
• Why Falling in Love is Like Owning a Dog by Taylor Mali → This poem develops an overall comparison between dog ownership and love relationships, drawing many humorous and interesting parallels between the two.

I hope that you’ve found a poem (or two or three) to love in this list.

I’d love to meet you in the comments!  What grade do you teach and where? Which one of these poems is your favorite? How will you use these poems and/or strategies in your classroom?

Free Guide to Teaching Slam Poetry!

And finally, as a huge thank you for reading my blog, I have put together a free guide to building excitement for slam poetry . Whether you’re new to the slam poetry game or have been teaching it for years, I’d love for you to take a look and download it today!

About Lindsay Ann

Lindsay has been teaching high school English in the burbs of Chicago for 18 years. She is passionate about helping English teachers find balance in their lives and teaching practice through practical feedback strategies and student-led learning strategies. She also geeks out about literary analysis, inquiry-based learning, and classroom technology integration. When Lindsay is not teaching, she enjoys playing with her two kids, running, and getting lost in a good book.

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Reader Interactions

May 3, 2020 at 6:48 pm

Thank you so much for all of this great information! I’m student teaching right now and it’s been a bit of struggle to think of ways to integrate poetry as a medium that is approachable and interesting. I love this list! I’m planning on teaching The Outsiders next year once I have my own classroom (as an Oklahoman, I almost feel like it’s a required text), so I love that you’ve included “Nothing Gold Can Stay.”

May 5, 2020 at 11:55 pm

Claire, thank you so much for reading and commenting! I’m so glad that you found the list and ideas useful. I have fond memories of reading The Outsiders when I was in school – I hope that your students it too.

July 25, 2021 at 4:18 pm

Thank you! Your list of poems was exactly what I needed to get past our poetry plateau and explore some new authors. Your experience and advice reignited my excitement to teach the love of poetry.

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12 Of The Best Slam Poetry Performances To Leave You In Awe

Yashvi Peeti

Yashvi Peeti is an aspiring writer and an aspiring penguin. She has worked as an editorial intern with Penguin Random House India and HarperCollins Publishers India. She is always up for fangirling over poetry, taking a walk in a park, and painting tiny canvases. You can find her on Instagram @intangible.perception

View All posts by Yashvi Peeti

A poetry slam is an event in which poets compete with gorgeous spoken word performances before a live audience and a panel of judges. The concept was invented in the 1980s by Marc Kelly Smith, a construction worker who thought poetry was losing its passion. He wanted to make poetry events more engrossing and energetic. His idea of a poetry slam was to let it be open to anyone who was willing to participate. The judges would be five random people from the audience who’d rate each performance on a scale of 0 to 10. Out of the five scores, the highest and lowest scores were dropped. The three remaining scores were added to give the poet an overall score. The poet with the highest score at the end of the competition was deemed the winner with the best slam poetry!

Marc’s original framework of a poetry slam is still followed, with little tweaks. The art form is getting increasingly popular across the USA, Europe, Canada and Japan. Today, you can experience the rich celebration of poetry through slams from the comfort of your home. You can watch both live or recorded performances online or be lifted by sheer eloquence when experiencing slam poetry events in person.

Slam poetry is democratic. The only criteria for winning is your ability to move the audience with the power of your poetry. With the tense political climate and unending biases, slam poetry events feel like precious protected corners. It fills me with joy and courage to see so many people speaking their truth out loud, through poetry. The experience of a poet performing their own piece can be moving and cathartic for both the poet and the audience. I encourage you to watch or participate in slam poetry events and let yourself feel all that they can make you feel.

Here’s a compilation of some of the best slam poetry to send shivers down your spine.

1) “ Mama ” by Emi Mahmoud

“I’m not saying dating is a first world problem, but these trifling motherfuckers seem to be. The kind who’ll quote Rumi, but not know what he sacrificed for war. Who’ll fawn over Lupita, but turn their racial filters on. Who’ll take their politics with a latte when I take mine with tear gas. Every guy I meet wants to be my introduction to the dark side, Wants me to open up this obsidian skin and let them read every tearful page, Because what survivor hasn’t had her struggle made spectacle? Don’t talk about the motherland unless you know that being from Africa means waking up an afterthought in this country. Don’t talk about my flavor unless you know that My flavor is insurrection, it is rebellion, resistance My flavor is mutiny It is burden, it is grit and it is compromise And you don’t know compromise until you’ve rebuilt your home for the third time Without bricks, without mortar, without any other option”

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2) “Why are Muslims So…” by Sakila and Hawa

“No graffiti artist is going to tell me to go home No Call of Duty player is going to threaten me No overprotective bigot of a mother is gonna ruin my day No ignorant bystander is gonna leave me feeling left out No tumblr post is gonna scare me away And no biased border patrol is gonna stop me from seeing my family

Because today is one of the holiest day of the year And instead of spending time with my family, I’m up on stage defending my family.”

3) “Hair” by Elizabeth Acevedo

“They say Dominicans can do the best hair. I mean they wash, set, flatten the spring in any loc but what they mean is we’re the best at swallowing amnesia, in a cup of morisoñando, die dreaming because we’d rather do that than live in this reality, caught between orange juice and milk, between reflections of the sun and whiteness. What they mean is, ‘Why would you date a black man?’ What they mean is, ‘a prieto cocolo’ What they mean is, ‘Why would two oppressed people come together? It’s two times the trouble.’ What they really mean is, ‘Have you thought of your daughter’s hair?’ And I don’t tell them that we love like sugar cane, brown skin, pale flesh, meshed in pure sweetness.”

Books by Elizabeth Acevedo:   The Poet X , With the Fire on High , Clap When You Land

4) “ Adrenaline Rush ” by Rudy Francisco

“Once, a friend of a friend asked me why there aren’t more black people in the X Games and I said, ‘You don’t get it.’

Being black is one of the most extreme sports in America. We don’t need to invent new ways of risking our lives because the old ones have been working for decades.”

Books by Rudy Francisco: Helium , I’ll Fly Away

5) “ What Kind Of Asian Are You ” by Alex Dang

“Let me tell you about being so marginalized, it’s to the point of ‘I really can’t believe that’s Asian!’ Let me tell you about derogatory terms and origins of words such as: chink and gook let me tell you about the struggle of Asian parents not knowing the language, so we, Ate pet food because it was cheaper Let me tell you about the job of interpreter When you’re still playing with Lego blocks but your English is already that much better than your parents Let me tell you about honor and dignity Let me tell you about a society that projects us as nothing but the secondary role and never the leading man Let me tell you all the things you don’t want to know like how chink, comes from the clinking of metal to railroad as the slaves built train-tracks for this country to be connected”

6) “Fight For Love” by Andrea Gibson

“Thank you for telling me there’s no need to open our relationship because being with me is already like being with fifty impossible people. Thank you for accepting my friend request for the fifth time this year. Thank you for screaming all the way home from that straight bar to the bed where our bodies made up while the full moon flew through the window, and a firefly poured into the room and landed in your hand, which you opened like a ring box, and asked me to marry you, and we were so new, I blushed instead of answered. But a firefly is forever and you know what my answer is. A firefly is forever. And you know what my answer is.”

Books by Andrea Gibson: Pole Dancing To Gospel Hymns , The Lord Of Butterflies , You Better Be Lightning

7) “The Period Poem” by Dominique Christina

“women Know how to let things go, How to let a dying thing leave the body, How to become new, How to regenerate, How to wax and wane not unlike the moon and tides, Both of which influence how YOU behave. I digress. Women have vaginas that can speak to each other. By this I mean, when we’re with our friends, Our sisters, our mothers, Our menstrual cycles will actually sync the fuck up. My own vagina is mad influential. Everybody I love knows how to bleed with me. (Hold onto that, there’s a metaphor in it).”

Books by Dominique Christina :  They Are All Me ,  This Is Woman’s Work

8) “Translated Disney” by Diksha Bijlani

“I am a descendant of a family of multilingual folk who are synonymous to non-English speaking. Who sent me to English school so I could be better than them, Because speaking English in India is status English in India is, ‘Look, I have a verbal Mercedes!’ English in India is sucking up to the colonialists, but forgetting they left a long time ago. The first time I dated a white guy, I would sometimes let words from my native language slip into a text out of reflex, and he’d dismiss them as typos.”

9) “Principles” by Danez Smith

“ii all lives don’t matter the same as all lives

some lives matter only to themselves

some lives matter only they hood

some lives matter of fact & some lives up for debate

all lives matter to someone

but what about this life of mine?

honey colored & black as it is?

what my life mean to you? am i talking to you? do you wish me justice or do you wish I would just shut up already, vanish already?”

Books by Danez Smith  :  Don’t Call Us Dead: Poems ,  Homie ,  Black Movie

10) “In My Skin” by Sha’Condria “iCon” Sibley

“This is a poem for every poem that uses cliché wordplay and metaphors to conceal a disgust for makeup under the mask of empowerment. You know the queen-you-don’t-need-makeup-to-make-up-for-something-you-are-lacking poems. That are as overdone as YouTube eyebrow tutorials. I hear you. But your preference for natural beauty hasn’t been there on the days I’ve been brave enough to face the world bare-faced and you forced your stares, comments and recommendations into my already irritated skin. It has not been there on days when no matter what I tried, acne and eczema were still hell bent on leaving their mark. This is not vanity, it is survival. It is the only way I can avoid the smudges of your jokes smudge off on the collar of my self-esteem.”

11) “ Pocket-Sized Feminism ” by Blythe Baird

“Once, I told a boy I was powerful and he told me to mind my own business.

Once, a boy accused me of practicing misandry. ‘You think you can take over the world?’ And I said ‘No, I just want to see it. I just need to know it is there for someone.’

Once, my dad informed me sexism is dead and reminded me to always carry pepper spray in the same breath. We accept this state of constant fear as just another component of being a girl.”

Books by Blythe Baird: If My Body Could Speak

12) “ Joey ” by Neil Hilborn

“When I wanted to open myself up and see if there really were bees rattling around in there, my parents got me a therapist. I can pinpoint the session

that brought me back to the world. That session cost seventy-five dollars. Seventy-five dollars is two weeks of groceries. It’s a month of bus fare.

It’s not even a school year’s worth of new shoes. It took weeks of seventy-five dollars to get to the one that saved my life. We both had parents that believed

us when we said we weren’t OK, but mine could afford to do something about it. I wonder how many kids like Joey wanted to die and were unlucky enough

to actually pull it off. How many of those kids had someone who cared about them but also had to pay rent?”

Books by Neil Hilborn: Our Numbered Days

How to Find the Best Slam Poetry Events

Here’s some sources to find the best slam poetry near you (both online and in person!):

• Eventbrite : Find events based on your geographical location
• Poets.org : Have this on your radar for poetry readings, workshops and slam poetry events!
• Brave New Voices : This is an international slam poetry competition. Check out their website to register as a participant or show your love and support for all the brave new voices from the audience.

You can also frequently flip through the cultural events section of your local newspaper and mark your calendar for any upcoming poetry slam event. I hope you invite poetry in and let it open you up in ways you haven’t before.

For more insights on the best slam poetry, check out 10 More Poetry Slam Videos You Must Watch and 14 Gorgeous Poems Written and Performed By Poets Of Color.

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How to Write a Concrete Slam Poem

Last Updated: August 4, 2021

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A concrete slam poem is a poem written for performance within a short space of time. This article is intended to assist you in writing a well-formed slam poem.

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Back to School English: Two Lessons on Slam Poetry and Identity

Subject: English

Age range: 11-14

Resource type: Lesson (complete)

Last updated

1 August 2023

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Two engaging and fully-resourced back to school English lessons with PowerPoints and worksheets which support students to write a slam poem about their identity. This allows the class to get to know each other, reminds students of poetic techniques and analysis and gives them the opportunity to do some creative writing through writing a slam poem.

I have used it regularly with key stage 3 and key stage 4 classes as it can be easily adapted to the poetic knowledge and ability of each class.

LESSON ONE Learning Objective: Analyse the effect of poetic techniques used in a slam poem.

Learning Outcomes: Bronze: Identify poetic techniques in a slam poem. Silver: Explain the effect of vocabulary and poetic techniques in a slam poem. Gold: Explain how the poet uses rhythm and structure for effect in a slam poem.

Lesson Overview: Do it now: Vocabulary stretcher: how would you describe yourself in three words? Talk to the person next to you and share examples on a post-it note. Starter: Think – pair- share: discuss images and techniques used in lines of poetry followed by teacher modelling. Activity one: Watch example slam poem and discuss meaning and techniques. Teacher leads discussion and models some answers. Activity two: Based on the slam poem you’ve watched, what would you say are some of the main features of slam poetry? Plenary: Class tries to match the post-it note from the ‘do it now’ exercise to the correct student.

LESSON TWO Learning Objective: Write a Slam Poem about your Identity

Learning Outcomes: Bronze: Use a range of vocabulary and poetic techniques in your slam poem. Silver: Use rhyme and rhythm to achieve a desired effect. Gold: Write powerful stand-out lines that get stuck in the listeners’ minds.

Lesson Overview: Do it now: What features of slam poetry do you remember from the previous lesson? Starter: Think – pair- share: what language techniques can you identify in quotes from last lesson’s poem? Can you explain the effect? Activity one: Use the graphic organiser to start planning your slam poem and then begin to write it. Plenary: Share your most powerful line Homework: Complete your slam poem

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• Writing Tips

How to Write Slam Poetry

4-minute read

• 18th August 2022

Slam poetry is popular with writers from all backgrounds. But what exactly is slam poetry, and how is it different from other poetic styles?

In this post, we discuss the origins of slam poetry and provide you with some tips for writing your own slam poem.

What is Slam Poetry?

Slam poetry is a type of poetry designed to be performed aloud rather than read. 

It first appeared in the US in the 1980s, and the first National Poetry Slam was organized by poet Marc Kelly Smith in 1990.

Slam poetry is different from a traditional poetry reading in many ways:

• It is accessible. Slam poetry competitions were organized as an alternative to poetry readings, which were seen as overly academic and formal.
• It is fast-paced. Performers usually have only 3 minutes on stage, so every second counts.
• It encourages audience participation. The audience may boo, jeer, clap, shout, stamp their feet, or click their fingers while a poem is performed.
• It is competitive. Slam poetry is a friendly competition where the audience judges every poem. 

You’ll need to keep these features in mind when writing a slam poem.

Tips for Writing Slam Poetry

Writing a slam poem is a little different from writing other forms of poetry . Here are some tips to help you through the process:

1. Experience slam poetry for yourself.

Before you start writing your own poem, it’s important to get an idea of what slam poetry involves.

Attending a competition in person is a great way to get a feel for the connection between the audience and the poet. If you can’t attend a competition in person, though, have a look online for recordings of slam poetry performances.

2. Choose a topic that inspires a response. 

A slam poem needs to tell a story, and as your poem will be judged by an audience, this should be a story that will resonate with them in some way.

For this reason, many slam poems are inspired by topics such as current events, race, gender, and sexuality that can evoke powerful emotions in their audience.

When writing your poem, think about subjects that you are passionate about, have personal experience with, or associate with strong emotions. These can be positive or negative; fear, anger, grief, joy, and hope are all powerful responses.

3. Write out all your feelings.

Now that you’ve chosen your theme, get all those related emotions written down on the page. 

This doesn’t have to be neat or organized at first. You can even try free writing about the topic to tap into your subconscious.

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Once you have all your thoughts down, choose the ones that resonate most with you. You can then start refining these into the lines and stanzas of your poem.

4. Give it rhythm.

There are no rules regarding the structure of a slam poem, and most slam poems tend to be free verse .

However, as a slam poem is meant to be spoken aloud, it’s important to think about the rhythm of your piece and how it will sound. 

You can experiment with rhythm when writing your poem by:

• Changing word choice and order to emphasize different sounds.
• Using different rhyme schemes (or no rhyme scheme at all).
• Using alliteration and repeating sounds.

5. Trim all the extra bits.

Remember, your poem must be short enough to perform in under 3 minutes! You also need to keep your audience’s attention for those 3 minutes.

Any extra words or lines that aren’t essential to the meaning of your poem will need to be cut. And while poetic devices can be useful, you don’t want to include so many that you lose your poem’s story (or the audience’s attention).

Try reading your poem aloud and timing yourself: if you take more than 3 minutes, your poem needs a trim!

6. Plan your performance.

Of course, the point of slam poetry is that it doesn’t just exist as words on a page.

Once you’ve written your poem, you’ll need to know how to perform it.

Your performance could include:

• Speeding up or slowing down passages
• Pausing to emphasize a word or phrase
• Gesturing with your hands
• Moving your body
• Stamping or clapping a rhythm
• Using facial expressions

However you decide to perform your poem, remember the golden rule: practice makes perfect.

Poetry Proofreading Services

Whether they’re meant for reading or performing, your poems are safe with our poetry proofreaders and editors . They’re available 24/7 to give your words a final polish, and you can even try their services for free . 

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Homework Stew

I cooked my math book in a broth

and stirred it to a steaming froth.

I threw in papers, pencils, too—

to make a pot of homework stew.

I turned the flame up nice and hot

and tossed my binder in the pot.

I sprinkled in my book report

with colored markers by the quart.

Despite its putrid, noxious gas,

I proudly took my stew to class.

And though the smell was so grotesque,

I set it on my teacher’s desk.

My teacher said, "You’re quite a chef.

But still you’re going to get an F.

I didn’t ask for ‘homework stew,’

I said, ‘Tomorrow, homework’s due.’"

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Additional Resources

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Interested in feedback on your poem? Try our AI Feedback tool .  

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Kick off National Poetry Month with this classic poetry slam | State of Art

In honor of National Poetry Month, broadcaster and poetry lover, Camille Conte , is organizing a poetry slam on Tuesday, April 2 at Main Event Grill . She was part of the Alaska Poetry League in the 90s and has a long history with poetry slams. Conte says the slam will follow classic rules with three judged elimination rounds culminating in cash prizes and an audience favorite award. The stable of recognizable judges includes: Aaron Leggett, President the of Native Village of Ekultna, TV meteorologist, Jackie Purcell, political pundit and podcast host, Andrew Halcro, Eddie “P” Parker, host of “The Venue,” Vered Mares, owner of The Writer’s Block and Olympian Rosey Fletcher.

EVENT INFO: Tuesday, April 2 @ Main Event Grill 6 p.m. Doors open 6-6:30 p.m. Poet signup 7 p.m. Slam start

Ammon Swenson, Alaska Public Media

Ammon Swenson is Alaska Public Media’s Audio Media Content Producer. He was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska. He graduated from UAA in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and integrated media. He’s previously worked for KRUA radio, the Anchorage Press, and The Northern Light.

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