Poetry has to be one of the more challenging forms of art, not only to create but to interpret and understand. For anyone who loves poetry (whether it be by great poets of bygone eras or their contemporary counterparts) it is forever present to be recited or referenced with much enthusiasm and passion. Sometimes with an element of snobbery, the culturally aware drop poetic references into routine conversations in artsy circles to look down upon their middle class acquaintances and remind us that poetry is inaccessible to those without a certain pedigree or education.
Unfortunately, I am one of those middle class types who cannot recite Proust or Coleridge mid conversation to support a polemic argument about the state of the world today. I sometimes do feel rather belittled when others who are admittedly more brilliant than I are able to do what I only wish I had the ability to do. To look someone in squarely in the eyes, focus and let loose my verbal assault through Whitman’s Leaves of Grass – ah, what a dream I dream!
Growing up with an English teacher for a mother and a Grandfather who was predisposed to being eternally quixotic, poetry was a constant in our house. Whether it was in Urdu, Hindi or English, there was always someone saying something profound in rhyme. Oblivious as I was, poetry only came into my conscious life in high school. With an amazing teacher we discovered the joys and depths of poetry. Frost, as obvious a choice as he may seem, was one of my favourites. To be able to romanticise choosing the road less travelled had me hooked!
Why are you harping on about poetry, you might ask??
A few weeks ago Macquarie University (yes, club Mac) organised the first ever University Poetry Slam night on campus. A free for all, it was an event definitely worth attending. The master of ceremonies, Miles Merrill, brought to us the unique and inclusive idea of poetry as improvisation. The basic idea is that you are given 2 minutes on stage to wow the crowd and elicit an emotional response strong enough to come either first, second or third in this competition. Nothing can be pre-empted, even the judges are randomly selected from the crowd. There are no prerequisites as you can perform whatever you like, however you like. From jumping in to the crowd, screaming out your words or simply standing and reciting something with a shaky piece of paper in hand – everyone is welcome.
The excitement that builds with every person who is gutsy enough to get up on stage and let loose is scintillating. It is one of the more entertaining ways of enjoying poetry and let’s face it, makes for a great night out. What’s so refreshing about the set up of a poetry slam is that there is no snobbery involved. Not only does the positive environment encourage those of us less than comfortable on stage to get up there and perform, but it also allows people with a serious message to get up there and be creative. The creativity, which overflowed at the Mac Uni event, was beyond unbelievable. The students whom you would normally overlook or bypass on campus were out in full force. The topics covered ranged from eventful moments in the shower to rape at Redfern station and everything in between.
Miles Merrill organises various events relating to Poetry Slam around Sydney and rural NSW. In conjunction with the ABC and NSW Libraries there is a national Poetry Slam competition which starts in June and concludes with finals in Sydney in December. The prizes certainly do vary depending on how far along you get in the competition but for anyone out there who likes to rhyme and considers themselves an entertainer if not an outright poet it’s worth being a part of the event.
If a competition isn’t quite what you’re after, then head along to the Friend in Hand pub in Glebe on the first Tuesday of every month and participate in the local open mike poetry night aptly named Word in Hand Poetry Night.
Great article. It’s an interesting artform I hope will become mainstream in Australia as well.
I’ll come to that open mic night if you get up and do it.
Yeah that’s a thought Benji, she’d be great on stage reciting poetry….i’m sure.
I also like to make poems and read lots of books that is related to Poetry..”*