Slamming, only allowed in Poetry

So, if anyone has kept up with me long enough, they should know I am obsessed with anything related to literature or the arts. Call me a junkie, but I love that kind of stuff. That's why a year or two back I joined the Lex Youth Arts Council, which is a community based organization which serves to promote more awareness for the arts within our small town. As of recently, Lexington has actually flourished with regards to new social hubs, eating places, and arts venues. Go Lex for being so progressive!

With LYAC, we've organized several events like music festivals, downtown-wide gallery exhibitions, Battle of the Bands and so on, but my most favorite event we host each year is the Poetry Slam. I wouldn't miss it for the world; this year was my third year in a row of going. We hold it in this small hole-in-the-wall stage called the Black Box Theatre, in the heart of downtown. Thus, after babysitting that little cutie in the picture, the Slam was were I headed to next! 

A Poetry Slam is essentially a 2-round competition between poets in which each contestant recites one poem after which the judges score them 1-10. This occurs a second time before the final scores are tallied and a winner is announced!

Last years Slam left me expecting great things from this years, but sadly, my expectations were not met. I suppose last year was just a Slam for the ages because literally every poet who went on stage left me speechless -- where this type of event usually lasts about an hour, last year there were so many poets that we stayed for 2 1/2 hours! 

That's not to this years event wasn't phenomenal, because it was! The turnout wasn't huge but it was a good, comfortable amount. It's funny, poetry can be about anything really. From tragic memories, to awkward experiences, an existential crisis or two; seriously, the possibilities are endless. And tonight's poets had no problem delving into some serious subject matter. One poet I admired named Aaron performed a touching poem about the loss of love, and a life. However, first prize went out to a fellow named Thomas whose first poem was called "This is Just a Poem" and was about the stereotyping and commercialization of poetry, and how instead it should just be something personal between the poet and his audience. His second was part of a larger collection called "The Rosewood Bible" and it dissected his relationship with religion ever since he was a young boy, brought  up strictly Catholic. Both poems were beautifully worded and structured, as were all the others! I must say, these Slams never disappoint. 

And hey! Let's give a big whoop to my classmate Hank who braved the open-mic portion of the night!