Best Spoken Word Poetry, Part I | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

Best Spoken Word Poetry, Part I

...the kind that will change your life

139
Best Spoken Word Poetry, Part I
The Scene, Brick and Mortar

As a lover of spoken word poetry, I thought I should share the gems that I found. There really isn't any order because they are all that good. So, please sit back, and enjoy!

1. Hollie McNish - Mathematics

First up is British poet, Hollie McNish. She is a poet and playwright who offers spoken word and slam poetry workshops. The poem is called Mathematics and deals with the social discrimination against immigrants in her home country. It is moving, and her topic even transcends the issues we have here in America.



2. Louis Reyes Rivera - Bullet Cry

I don't even know where to start with this great poet. Born in New York to Puerto Rican parents, Rivera published collections of his poetry that dealt with building "a bridge between the various currents of the underclass." He was more than a poet, he was a teacher, an activist, a translator, and an inspiration to many. In Bullet Cry, which he wrote and performed on the 37th anniversary of Malcolm X's assassination proves more than his talent with the pen, but also of his translation of the pain this horrible event caused.



3. Shane Koyczan - To This Day

Shane Koyczan is a Canadian spoken word poet who writes about a bunch of different topics that span anywhere from bullying to cancer or even eating disorders. This man is so talented that I had a hard time choosing which poem to share, so if you like him please check out his webpage. His most famous poem, To This Day, has more than 19 million views, and it is my mission to spread it even more. Please, please, please, watch, listen and spread this one.



4. Suli Breaks - I Will Not Let Exam Results Decide My Fate

I'm a parent of children in school, I'm also a student, and to top it off, I want to teach at the university level, but I can't pretend that what Suli Breaks says here doesn't have merit. Suli Breaks, a London born, college graduate himself, speaks about loving education, but disliking school and exams. He has almost 9 million views on YouTube, also, he spoke on Tedx event at the House of Parliament, and been featured on Sky News, which has opened a debate on the exam structure within school systems.



5. Joshua Bennett - 10 Things I Want to Say To A Black Woman

Joshua Bennett calls himself not just an artist, but also a scholar. His dream is to create poetry that cultivates living, thinking, and "destabilizes hegemonic conceptions of beauty and strength." 10 Things I Want To Say To A Black Woman is beautifully written and performed, and I had to add it to the collection. See for yourself.


I hope you enjoyed those five spoken word poems. Stay tuned for next week, when I conclude my top ten BEST spoken word poems that will change how you view the world.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

187196
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

12965
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

456430
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

25724
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments