Performance poetry is just as much about the writing as it is the theatricality and delivery of it. Perhaps what I love most about performance poetry is navigating this partnership of two mediums. With this list, I wanted to highlight, with as much variety as possible, some of my favorite artists who use the theatrical elements of spoken word really uniquely. These videos are excellent examples of artists playing around with multiple voices, music, rhythm, rhyme, inflection, and the dialogue between the performers on stage as well as with the audience. With that being said, however, even though video recordings are great, I remain to be of the opinion that nothing beats going to see poetry done live. So if you feel any hint of inspiration from any of these, go to a show!

1. "Counting Graves" by The Steinmenauts

2. "Lost Voices" by Darius Simpson and Scout Bostley

3. "The Boxer" by C. R. Avery

4. "A Sad Maximalist Poem About Misogyny" by Scott Wings

5. "Tamara's Opus" by Joshua Bennett

6. "Mitsubishi Colt" by Tim Minchin

7. "Hir" by Alysia Harris and Aysha Shamayleh

8. "Mao" by Kai Huang and Phil Kaye

9. "Tunnel" by the Sekaliwags

10. "Shake The Dust" and "Today's Love" by Anis Mojgani

11. "I Do" and "Maybe I Need You" by Andrea Gibson