The Pursuit of Happiness (Sienna Johnson)

The following slam poem was submitted by a poet named Sienna Johnson, hailing from CO. This poem is provided as both a spoken word poetry performance and a written poetry piece. Leave a comment to move this slam poem up in the rankings. Our poetry comment system is intended to facilitate feedback for our artists, and to promote creative communication. Don't just read he poetry -- take the leap by, submitting, commenting, and following. --Slam Poems Editor 

[VIDEO]

 

The Pursuit of Happiness from Sienna Johnson on Vimeo.

[FULL TEXT]

The Pursuit of Happiness
Humanity is just a blip in the cosmos in the grand scheme of time
According to the Cosmic Calendar, the average years of human life is equivalent to only zero point one sixth of a second

Touch (Johnny Levy)

Leave a comment to move this slam poem up in the rankings. Our poetry comment system is intended to facilitate feedback for our artists, and to promote creative communication. Don't just read he poetry -- take the leap by, submitting, commenting, and following. --Slam Poems Editor 

 [VIDEO]

 

Great Art? (Matt Redder)

The following haiku was submitted by Matt Redder, hailing from Arizona. This poem is provided as a written poetry piece. Leave a comment to move this poem up in the rankings. Our poetry comment system is intended to facilitate feedback for our artists, and to promote creative communication. Don't just read he poetry -- take the leap by, submitting, commenting, and following. 

 --Slam Poems Editor 

Great Art? 

What makes the art great? 

Is it interpretation

Or my intention? 

Remembering Mary (Phil Ginsburg)

The following slam poem was submitted by Phil Ginsburg, hailing from Colorado. This poem is provided as a spoken word video poetry performance. Leave a comment to move this slam poem up in the rankings. Our poetry comment system is intended to facilitate feedback for our artists, and to promote creative communication. Participate in this slam poetry community by, submitting, commenting, and following. 

 --Slam Poems Editor

Remembering Mary [VIDEO]

Park Hill, Son (Johnny L.)

The following slam poem was submitted by a poet who goes by the name "Johnny L.", hailing from Colorado. This poem is provided as a written poetry piece, and is about reconciling the present with the pain of the past. Leave a comment to move this slam poem up in the rankings. Our poetry comment system is intended to facilitate feedback for our artists, and to promote creative communication. Don't just read he poetry -- take the leap by, submitting, commenting, and following. --Slam Poems Editor 

Park Hill, Son

My wife sometimes 

Jokes that she

Wants me to be a 

Bit more polished.

Maybe wear capris

Like rich Italian guys.

Or maybe like a scarf 

Or something.

And I say what 

I always say.

I'm from Park Hill.

All About You (Kia-San)

The following slam poem was submitted by a poet who goes by the name "Kia-San", hailing from Philadelphia. This poem is provided as a written poetry piece. Leave a comment to move this slam poem up in the rankings. Our poetry comment system is intended to facilitate feedback for our artists, and to promote creative communication. Don't forget to participate by, submitting, commenting, and following.  

All About You

"Our talks are priceless when the meaning behind the conversation goes a long way

It's actually an exciting thing I should say

Because every word ends in laughter all day

Oh, but that's not all; our hopes and dreams are just as grand

That one day we make it to the other land

Baby take my hand!

Oops! So sorry! 

In the moment, you understand?

Where I was going with this conversation

though I tremble in desperation

Looking for words to say my declaration 

Without causing aggravation 

Oh dear, help me describe what I'm feeling

Because my heart is beating

Maybe I should send a letter

But that would simply be cheating

Haiku Challenger 3: Perfect Haiku (Tim H.)

The battle is on!  The following haiku was submitted by Tim H., from Colorado. This is for the Slam Haiku competition. Submit to compete. Comment to elevate this haiku in the rankings.

Perfect Haiku

A perfect haiku, I think I'll try to write one. I'm a failure.

Haiku Challenger 2: Ripples (Isaiah B.)

The battle is on!  The following haiku was submitted by Isaiah, from Seattle. This is for the Slam Haiku competition. Submit to compete. Comment to elevate this haiku in the rankings.

Haiku Challenger 1: Rest (Sarah)

The battle is on!  The following haiku was submitted by Sarah, from Colorado. This is for the Slam Haiku competition. Submit to compete. Comment to elevate this haiku in the rankings.

Rest

Rest is elusive
Life beats down relentlessly
Peace is worth the fight

Untitled (Darby E.)

The following slam poem was submitted by a poet who goes by the name Darby E , hailing from Texas. This poem is provided as a written poetry piece. Leave a comment to move this slam poem up in the rankings. Participate in this community of slam poets by, submitting, commenting, and following. 

Untitled

Ghosts have no need for candles

   cannot dictate how their birthdays are celebrated

   if they are remembered at all.

It is we the left behind,

   that make all of the rules,

   poke at the pain and choose what we want to store in our heads.

We.

Choose.

Black (Franko)

The following slam poem was submitted by Franko, hailing from Louisiana. This poem is provided as a written poetry piece.  Leave a comment to move this slam poem up in the rankings. Remember to participate in this community by, submitting, commenting, and following. 

Black

Black is symbolic of love and pride 

It is a symbol for which my ancestors fought bravely and died 

The dominant figure in society is the man who claims propriety 

Is what some men say, but is untrue 

Black is not to be ashamed of or hide 

For Black and Pride Coincide

Overwhelmed (Tim Hernandez)

The following slam poem was submitted by a poet who goes by the name Tim Hernandez, hailing from Colorado. This poem is provided as a written poetry piece, and addresses the search for truth and peace. Leave a comment to move this slam poem up in the rankings. Our poetry comment system is intended to facilitate feedback for our artists, and to promote creative communication. Don't just read he poetry -- take the leap by, submitting, commenting, and following. 

 --Slam Poems Editor

Overwhelmed

Overwhelmed
But who's not
Once I could think
But of what,
I forgot

My mind is caught
Inside a thought
Too big
And now it's
Bursting

What is true?
Am I, are You?
A dry well ever
Thirsting

This knot entangled
Synapse strangled
Mind encased in
Doubt

Can't find an end
Maybe my friend
My heart can help me
Out

Anxiety ridden
Emotions hidden
Tense and short of
Breath

Run away
No! not today
This time I'll face this
Death

I'm far too weak
Too shy too meek
Too insecure
Too immature
Too dumb too scared
Mentally impaired
Too useless
Too awkward
Too Broken

Searching for something
For someone to put my hope in

No one but You
Eternally true
Breathe me out
Breathe You in
Let it soak in

When I lose sight
Please hold me tight
And never cease
Overwhelming peace

Feelings (Austin J.)

This slam poem was submitted by a poet named Austin J., hailing from Germany. This poem is provided as a written poetry piece, profoundly personal, deeply painful. Leave a comment to move this slam poem up in the rankings. Our poetry comment system is intended to facilitate feedback for our artists, and to promote creative communication. Make sure to leave a comment.

 --Slam Poems Editor

Unloved

Today was a bad day.
I cried again.
Not that anyone would care.
I argued with them again, about something that's important to me.
Like always they don't understand and they don't care, or they just don't want to care.
It hurts.

The Painter (hitalot879)

The following slam poem was submitted by a poet who goes by the name "hitalot879", hailing from Connecticut. This poem is provided as a written poetry piece with beautiful natural imagery. Leave a comment to move this slam poem up in the rankings. Our poetry comment system is intended to facilitate feedback for our artists, and to promote creative communication. Don't just read he poetry -- take the leap by, submitting, commenting, and following.    --Slam Poems Editor 

The Painter

I saw the artist paint with brush,

The setting sun, the lengthening shade

The near and further distant hills,

The valley where the lily shows its blade

And hides the nest of the noble thrush

He painted the valleys with their streams,

The giant oak and the stately pine

The quaking aspen leaves afloat

The evening breeze of summertime

And he left me standing lost in dreams

He mixed his colors in varied hue

As clouds suspended from the sky

From swaying limbs where the robin sings

And the eagles nest in mountains high

Beneath a sky of azure blue

It's here the artist stops and stands

Spellbound, he cannot overcome the spell

The sun, now set, has changed the scene

With different colors in the dell

He cannot match the master's hand

EDITOR'S PICK: Shake the Dust (Anis Mojgani)

The Mission of Slam Poems is 1.) to showcase great slam poetry, and 2.) to create awesome conversations. 

For these purposes, I frequently post examples of  the best slam poetry performances that I have come across. This is a means of inspiring the slampoems.com community.

This slam poem model of excellence is called “Shake the Dust” by Anis Mojgani. I was inspired by the ferocious hopefulness, and the precision of delivery in this piece. I also appreciated how he crosses lines by delivering a message of hope to people on opposing sides of the equation: the bullies and the bullied, etc.

The site thrives on engagement from the slam poetry community.

We’d love to hear your comments on this one. What can be learned from this poet?

--Slam Poems Team

 
[VIDEO]

 

Hardships of Life (Callum Finlay)

The following slam poem was submitted by a poet named Callum Finlay. This poem is provided as a written poetry piece, and is a painful, bit ultimately hopeful look at life challenges.  Leave a comment to move this poem up in the rankings. Our poetry comment system is intended to facilitate feedback for our artists, and to promote creative communication. Don't just read poetry -- take the leap by submitting, commenting, and following.  

--Slam Poems Editor

Hardships of Life

He comes home early to a pile of bills,

Working 60 hours a week there's no time for thrills,

Man of the house he's got to provide,

Food on the table for his family to survive,

He's just a blue collar guy,

Trying to get by,

Dark Thoughts and Great Movies (Mr. Brightside)

The following slam poem was submitted by a poet who goes by the name "Mr. Brightside." This poem is provided as a written poetry piece, and is a powerful, vulnerable, questioning piece that leverages dark humor for effect.  Leave a comment to move this poem up in the rankings. Our poetry comment system is intended to facilitate feedback for our artists, and to promote creative communication. Don't just read poetry -- take the leap by submitting, commenting, and following.  

--Slam Poems Editor

Dark Thoughts and Great Movies

They say most girls dream of being a princess and want to be rescued by the prince. What about the boys? I for one wanted to be the prince, find my true love and live happily ever after. Isn’t that what most of us want. I did not know the story ends with the princess sleeping with all 7 dwarfs the Ogre and even the donkey too. Why can’t we be like penguins or seahorses or better yet a Werewolf? Damn you Morpheus and your red pill. (yes, I just referenced Snow White, Shrek, National Geographic, Twilight and Matrix, that’s how messed up my head is).

You Know Who You Are (Lorelai)

You know who you are
You know that you’re the one And I don’t mean the one in which I love I mean the 13 year old boy who took everything from me

Cold Mirror (Zeba Mehdi)

The mirror looks cold, Unnervingly so as I Stand before it Waiting for its approval.

The Broken Handcuffs (Marissa)

View the Video ...