During his two year tenure, your new Hampshire Poet - Damian Kelly-Basher - will be writing a series of blog posts for us sharing what he has been up to, telling us his poetic plans for the future, and inviting you to get involved in poetry in Hampshire. Read on to find out what's happening in Damian's world!
In this blog, Damian discusses spoken word.
Spoken Word is poetry that focuses on speaking and performing to a live audience.
Like animals, we communicate by sounds. From our human ancestors onwards, spoken words were the main way we shared ideas and culture.
Before writing (the first written poem ‘Gilgamesh’ from Iraq is over 4000 years old), people told stories to others. Even, today's major world religious texts (Bible, Koran, Bahgavad Gita) were first only transmitted through vocal means.
People can make false distinctions between page and spoken poetry. Each method has its own benefits and constraints. They are just different ways poets use to share words and thoughts. Spoken poets start by writing down their work; page poets end up speaking their work in front of audiences.
As a performance poet, when I read my work out loud, I’m physically more aware of the sounds and rhythms of sentences. For me, performing poetry in front of an audience is ‘live literature’. Many poets now borrow techniques from music, comedy or theatre to involve their audience and create a shared experience. (and so they should!)
I grew up surrounded by different languages. So, spoken poetry has an added advantage. It can involve you in its sounds and rhythms, even if it’s performed in a language you don’t read or understand.
There is SO MUCH out there.
So, why not start with Button Poetry and its 3.5k videos of American spoken word performers ?
Have fun reading and listening.
Damian Kelly-Basher is Hampshire Poet Laureate 2024-26. The appointment of the Hampshire Poet takes place every two years and is jointly led by Winchester Poetry Festival and Hampshire Cultural Trust. The position of Hampshire Poet provides the opportunity for a Hampshire-based poet to undertake commissions, lead workshops and give readings and talks throughout the county, as well as acting as an advocate for poetry and poets.
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