April is National Poetry Month, and whether you are an avid poetry reader or haven’t explored the genre, this month is a great time to check out new poets. Slam poetry or spoken word poetry is poetry that is performed out loud, usually in front of an audience. Below are some spoken word pieces from Button Poetry that you should listen to in celebration of this month.
“Collapse the Economy”: Olivia Gatwood and Megan Falley
Olivia Gatwood and Megan Falley are both published poets, writers and educators. They are also National Poetry Slam finalists.
Favorite line: “Victoria’s Secret? Is that she’s going out of business!”
“No Poems Inside the Victorian House”: Alysia Harris
**CW: Self-harm**
Alysia Nicole Harris has had a lifelong love of poetry. She received her MFA in poetry from NYU in 2014 and her PhD in linguistics from Yale in 2019.
Favorite line: “We survive trauma and keep living, because someone loved us once. If only briefly”
“Explaining My Depression to My Mother”: Sabrina Benaim
Sabrina Benaim is a poet, performer and workshop facilitator. She has toured various countries with her live shows and is a published author of a poetry book.
Favorite line: “Mom, my depression is a shapeshifter. One day it’s as small as a firefly in the palm of a bear. The next day it’s the bear.”
**CW: Gun Violence**
Andrea Gibson is a poet and author who often writes about their struggles with love, mental health and being a part of the LGBTQ+ community.
Favorite line: “Half of us are already dead before we die, half of us on our knees trying to crawl into the family photo.”
“Pronounce Us Correctly”: Muna Abdulahi
Muna Abdulahi is an international spoken word poet and proud Somali-American.
Favorite line: “Our culture has no limits or borders. Our future has no limits or borders. I will hold a future people like you never saw coming”