When someone brings slam, or spoken word poetry up in conversation, many people immediately think of 22 Jump Street’s roast of the style of poetry. It can be easy to poke fun at, the messages typically aren’t light, and the poets tend to get pretty animated.

Slam poetry deserves more credit. It beautifully tackles and dissects some of the most difficult issues society faces today. Laid out into beautiful metaphors the struggle of so many individuals is given attention through the poets verses. Truth be told, spoken word artists spit fire hotter than any mixtape.

Whether you are new to spoken word or a seasoned veteran of getting lost in the abyss of Button Poetry, here are eleven poems you need in your life.

1. Shrinking Women

This poem provides incredible insight into the relationship between men and women through a husband and wife.

2. Explaining My Depression To My Mother

Sabrina Benaim boldly and bravely takes to the mic to explain her depression. She beautifully calls attention to the misconceptions surrounding depression and other mental illnesses.

3. Columbusing

These young men define a different perspective on what so many people call "trendy."

4. Anvils

Michael Lee calls out our nation's humiliation over our labor filled history.

5. Piñata

From one overheard comment, Pages Matam slays an atrocious misbelief about rape victims.

6. Friend Zone

This piece honestly, and cleverly destroys the friend zone.

7. An Origin Story

Sarah Kay and Phil Kaye may be two of the most well known names in the world of spoken word and with reason. Here they weave the coolest story I've ever heard.

8. Rape Poem To End All Rape Poems

These members of the Rutgers poetry slam team call out critics of their poems category, raising some of the most legitimate points "Rape Poems" can touch upon.

9. Dear Ursula

Not even the images burned into young girls minds by their toys is left untouched by spoken word. "Dear Ursula" depicts one woman's despair when her role model's poor unfortunate soul was altered.

10. The Tampon Poem

On a lighter note, The Tampon Poem is hilarious and ends with amazing honesty. On the real though, tampons aren't scary... calm down.

11. B*tch

These two poets brought the fire for the final round of the Brave New Voices poetry slam. Their poem discusses derogatory terms derived from female descriptors.