Every now and again a poet delivers a performance so powerful it lingers in the mind long after they’ve uttered their final word. These are the performances that are remembered long after the poet calls it a day on their poetry careers. “OCD” by Neil Hilborn Neil Hilborn’s “OCD” is not only incredibly affecting but also masterfully delivered. The performance, which can be found on Button Poetry’s YouTube channel, is a perfect example of what performance poetry can be when a poet has complete command of the stage and their subject matter; and knows exactly the impression they want to leave on the audience before it’s all said and done at the end of the night. “Miss America” by Ramya Ramana Ramya Ramana’s performance of “Miss America” at the NYC 2014 Slam Final is the type of performance every poet strives to accomplish at least once in their poetry career. What makes this particular performance so stupendous isn’t only that it is delivered with such spellbinding ardour, but that it is so uncompromisingly honest. “Miss America” is relevant. It’s brilliant. But most importantly of all, it’s necessary. “The System” by Prentice Powell Prentice Powell’s performance of “The System” on Season 3 of Rhythm and Flow will surely go down in the annals of performance poetry history as one of the most legendary performances… period. Many a poet has taken to the stage to speak about the corruption caused by the “system”, but none have done it quite like Prentice Powell. An aspiring poet looking for a lesson in performance, delivery, storytelling, and stage presence need not look any further than Powell’s “The System”. Written by: Liam Spencer
Tag Archives: Poems
Exploring the Poetic Rise of Maryam
Every so often, a very special poet comes along, graces the stage and reminds us here at Wordplay of exactly why we love this. In 2021, that poet has been none other than the graceful and incredibly gifted wordsmith, Maryam. Since her emergence, Maryam has wowed audiences with spellbinding wordplay and breathtaking manipulation of the English language; captivating audiences with mesmeric storytelling and unmatched attention to detail, Maryam has quickly become one of the best poets performing on London’s poetry circuit. In less than a year, Maryam has catapulted herself from largely unknown to one of the scene’s most valued and sought after wordsmiths. Maryam combines a distinct and profoundly eloquent delivery with a masterfully complex and thought-provoking writing style to create an idiosyncratic experience like no other. What makes Maryam’s poetry so distinct and memorable isn’t only her astonishing command of the English language and poetic technique, but also her ability to construct pieces of work that transcend the quintessential composition of a modern day poem. It is bountifully clear with each individual performance and poem shared that Maryam not only wants you to hear her poetry, she wants you to feel it. With a catalogue of work that addresses and explores a plethora of pertinent topics including faith, politics, identity and injustice, Maryam has already found herself front and centre headlining poetry events across London, an expanding list that includes renowned spoken word nights like Mind Over Matter and Bring Your Own Bars Poetry, and brand new initiatives like Poetics. By meticulously interweaving layers of depth and substance into every sentence (or ‘bar’ for the poetry scene aficionados), and passionately exploring current affairs with faith-inspired poetry that is as relevant as it is enthralling, Maryam hasn’t just quietly arrived on the poetry scene, she’s effectively kicked the door wide open and announced to the entire scene: “I’m here… and this is just the beginning!” Written by: Liam Spencer
World Poetry Slam Champion Shares Urgent Address at Climate Summit in Scotland
The 2015 Individual World Poetry Slam Champion, Sudanese-American poet and activist, Emtithal ‘Emi’ Mahmoud once again echoes the voices of the dispossessed at the 2021 climate summit in Scotland. The incredible ‘Emi’, whom took home the crown of World Poetry Champion in Washington, D.C., six years ago, is back with her palpably impassioned and thought-provoking style of poetry, delivering another heartfelt poetic address before world leaders at this year’s climate summit. Emtithal, herself a refugee and witness to the dire situation in Darfur (a region in western Sudan) has used her voice to call for urgent action, while concomitantly raising awareness to the efforts made by refugees to adapt to their habitats. On Monday afternoon, Emtithal took to Twitter to explain the inspiration behind the poem ‘Di Baladna’, which she wrote for the summit, citing, among other things, the village her father was born in no longer existing due to climate change and the conflict in Sudan. “I wrote this poem to open the door to our truth, the urgency & lasting change,” she wrote in the short yet apropos Twitter post, providing a straightforward and simultaneously profound summary of the urgent need to break ground and pave the way for long-lasting change. For years, the veteran poet has voiced her concerns over the plights of the dispossessed refugees she has met, determinedly bringing attention to the hardships endured by Syrian refugees in Jordan and Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh; struggles she once experienced as a child before escaping from Darfur. “How will the world end?” Emtithal expresses rhetorically. “I don’t know. And I don’t want to find out. Not in our generation, and not in the next.” To see the full video for ‘Di Baladna’ and more pertinent content from Emtithal, head over to her official Twitter page. Written by: Liam Spencer