A difference in spitting

My newest literary fascination is Slam Poetry. By definition a "slam" is a competition where poets perform their work and are then judged by their writing, content, enthusiasm, passion, etc. Slam poems are usually not supposed to be read silently. It's a type of performance poetry. The reciting of a slam poem is often called "spitting."

The content of slam poetry is often controversial in nature. Slam poets usually write about gender, racial, social-economic, and political issues. And it's quite uncensored.

I went to Poetry Slam 101 here at the UW (which is where all this started) and I was entranced by the poet's performances. The flow of language, the use of metaphors, the passion, the heartbreak, the creativity... it was brilliant. Obscene sometimes, shocking sometimes. But so so brilliant.

So now I've been looking up videos of slam poet performances. Here are a few of my favorite:

Warning: profanity is inevitable. I can't remember how much there was in these three videos.

And now for a bit of a rant:

My question, though, is why do I have to be in love or heartbroken or angry to be a poet. Someone once told me never to be a poet because poets are always depressed. Well, why do I have to be depressed to be a poet? And why should I have to use profanity just to shock people or get my point across. There are so many brilliant words that could be used instead of obscenities. Why can't I write about random ideas that pop into my head or books or the way a tree looks in a certain light or simply have fun with words and metaphors. If being a poet means my emotions have to be unbalanced and I have to feel so much it hurts, then maybe I don't want to be a poet.

It's not true though. Because I can write poetry. And my feelings are all in order. I'm not heartbroken or angry. I don't have to write about love (that's so cliche anyway, right?). If you've read any of my poems lately they're about hope and my faith and writing and words and what I see around me and sometimes nothing at all.

Granted, I have nothing against those who write about heartache and pain and their anger.. politics, gender issues, and the like. I think their poems are brilliant. I love listening to them and I am inspired by them. And I used to write a lot about that too. I just don't think poetry - slam or otherwise - should be limited to that.

But that's why I love poetry. Because it can be limitless. I hope it stays that way.

So I'll be the poet who is passionately hopeful and in awe of her surroundings and the brilliance of life. Yeah.. that sounds a bit right.