By Kiara Catanzo
Staff Writer
Slam poets convey their emotions through their work and the way it is performed. Last Thursday, students had the opportunity to hear the stories of their peers as the St. Bonaventure Slam Poetry Club held this semester’s Poetry Slam.
Slam Poetry Club aims to make poetry more common on campus. Slam poetry is a slightly different style of poetry in comparison to regular poetry.
“Slam poetry is viewed as a more urban and performance type of poetry,” said Makeda Loney, a junior journalism and mass communication major. “The main example would be that you can read one of my poems one way, but when I perform that’s when you get the full effect and meaning behind what I’m saying. It’s a great outlet for people to let their feelings out in a more outgoing way than usual.”
Loney, Slam Poetry Club co-president and treasurer, placed third in the Poetry Slam on Thursday.
“It means a lot to me because what I say is my life, I don’t make up anything,” Loney said. “What I’m screaming into the microphone is 100 percent me. The fact that people respect what I go through, and love how I say the saddest things in such a way is such a blessing and an honor.”
For some students, like senior Spanish major Reid Gan, it was their first time participating in the poetry slam.
“This was my first time doing the poetry slam, and I thought it was so much fun,” Gan, second place winner, said. “I had no idea how many people were so talented. At times I was laughing hysterically at people’s ability to express themselves with a sense of humor, and at others I was very amazed at how thought provoking some of the other poets were. I had a great time and would love to be involved again.”
James Riley, a senior music major, has been participating in poetry slams since he first came to Bonaventure. He was were impressed with how far the event has come within the last few years.
“The slam this year was unbelievable,” said Riley, the first place winner. “The crowd last week was at least three times the size of the first one.” “People are slowly finding out about it, and that’s largely due to the amount of talent that we have here at school. I was impressed with everyone who performed this year. I had a few friends read who I didn’t even know wrote poetry.”
If students have an interest in slam poetry, they are encouraged to join the Slam Poetry Club at SBU. Whether you have written poetry your whole life or are just getting started, current members highly recommended signing up to give this modern style of poetry a try.
“Slam poetry is for anything and anyone. I don’t want people to think that just because they can’t write poetry it means they can’t try,” Loney said.
catanzka12@bonaventure.edu
