Why
I wrote poetry for several years and was perfectly mediocre at it. I found it difficult to make the cadence of words on the page match the one I heard in my head. There was always a disconnect between how I wrote a poem and how people read it. So much of my poetry was slipping through the cracks. Eventually I discovered that I was much better suited to do spoken word poetry. I find spoken word poetry to be far more exhilarating and rewarding than traditional, written poetry. Not that I have anything against page poetry, it is wonderful and beautiful in its own way. But stage poetry provides a slightly more volatile experience. Thought it may not be the right fit for everyone, I believe that all poets should at attempt spoken word poetry. At least once.
How
Writing stage poetry can be a very different process than most poets are used to. Just like page poetry, however, there are countless different strategies for creation and every writer has his or her individual process. No two poets have the same process but I will share my own. Following my steps is a good way for you to get a feel for spoken word poetry. If you find it suits you, then you can begin forging your own writing process.
For me, the process starts with exposing myself to as much inspirational material as possible. Obviously watching other spoken word poets is one of the most effective methods of harvesting inspiration, but there are many others. Reading, walking outside, listening to music, and watching the movie Secondhand Lions are just a few of my personal favorites. Pretty much anything that would inspire you to write traditional poetry. Bonus points for anything with an audio aspect, something where you can hear a cadence. While doing this, always be searching for something that catches you. Look for a reasonably deep emotional response. Once you have found one, immediately find a quiet space. Then simply talk about what you felt. Don’t hold back and don’t edit. Be as honest as you can be without thinking too hard. If you get stuck and can’t think of anything more to say, start over from the top. Repeat everything you just said but don’t worry too much about making it exactly the same. If you think of something new, throw it in, even if it doesn’t fit exactly right. Say things out of order as they come to you. Sections of words and ideas will stick together. Do this over and over again. What you say will change every time but don’t try to create something. Never be thinking about an end product. Just try to express something honestly. Pace back and forth. Stand on your head. Spin around in an office chair while kneeling on it. Explore the area you are in as if you were on the phone and absentmindedly wandering through the house. Just talk to yourself. Don’t try to memorize; the repetition will ensure you keep hold of the best pieces. Then those pieces will begin to fall into place on their own. Since you will have been saying them over and over and over again, each fragment of speech will be on the very tip of your tongue. As you rant to yourself they will spring forward whenever they fit the current topic of ranting. Seemingly of their own volition, each section of the poem will logically lead to another. Before you know it, you will have a spoken word poem finished and be ready to perform.
A word or two on performing your poems: don’t. OK, just the one.
Your poem has been formed from honesty; don’t make it dishonest now. When reciting your poem to an audience, simply say everything with the full weight and power that you feel it. There is no performance necessary. You only need two things to make your poem powerful to the audience: honesty and energy. And that’s all I will say.
Prompts
For those of you who are interested in giving spoken word poetry a try, but need a good jumping off point, here are a few options you have:
2. Answer one or both of these questions:
3. Recite one of your old page poems over and over again, letting it change and mutate.
“I confess…”
And finish it. Honestly. With the very last thing in the world you would want to admit. The thing that popped into your head as soon as you read the words. The thing you are trying not to think about right now. The thing you don’t want to say out loud so you are desperately searching for something else to say. Say it.
“What do you want?”
Dig deep. No bullshit.
4. Blindly follow on of these links without trying to guess what it might lead too:
5. Fall in love.
6. Get drunk
7. All of the above.
Good luck. be brave, be sincere, and have fun!
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| Read more of Padraic's work on Floodmark. |
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