"I want to hear a poem where ideas kiss similies so deeply that
metaphors get jealous,
Where the subject matters so much that adjectives start
holdin' pronoun rallies at city hall."

Here you go:

I wanna hear a poem


I wanna hear a poem
I wanna learn something I didn't know
I wanna say "yes" at the end, because I'm sick of saying "so?"

I wanna hear a poem about who you are
And what you think
And why you slam
Not a poem about me and my poem
Because I know who I am

I wanna hear a love poem
A sad poem
An "I hate my dad" poem
A dream poem
An "I'm not what I seem" poem
An "I need" poem
An "I also bleed" poem
An "I'm alone" poem
An "I can't find my home" poem
I just wanna hear a poem

I wanna hear a poem about revolution
About fists raised high
And hips twisting in a rumble like a rumba
I wanna follow the footsteps of Chè
And hear the truth about the days of CIA killed the mumba

I wanna hear a poem about struggle
So that when I open my mouth, I can step outside myself
I wanna listen to no less than the sounds of protest
In the factories where workers sweat and make Air Jordans and Pro-Keds because
If you wanna take shots at people
Target Phil Knight and Bill Gates
Contemplate how
They own the products
And they got the goods
How they act like they care
But they're just Robin Hoods

I wanna hear a poem where ideas kiss similes so deeply that metaphors get jealous
Where the subject matters so much that adjectives start holding pro-noun rallies at city hall

Because I wanna hear a poem that attacks the status quo
That attracts the clapse of the cats with the fattest flows
That makes the crowd pass the hat
And pack my cap with a stack of dough
I wanna hear a poem that makes this audience yell "hoooo!"

Because I wanna guess your favorite color
Then craft rhyme schemes out of thin air
I wanna hear a poem about why the statute of limitations for rape is only five years
I wanna hear a poem
I wanna feel a poem
I wanna taste a poem
Give me your spot on the mic if you wanna waste a poem

I wanna
Hear
A Poem

Steve Coleman, 1998 Slam Champion

help please!
what does "Give me your spot on the mic" means?

Mia-

At open mic (or mike) night poets are given the chance to air their wares (sorry).
"Give me your spot in the mic" probably implies something like:
'I have something to say. If your stuff is crap, or if you are too meek
to spit it out, give somebody else a shot at the microphone.'


Just a guess.


Jack

Thanks Jack! It's not always easy to catch all the meanings of expressions when you're not a native speaker.

poem was printed in Russell Simmons Def Poetry Jam on Broadway...book with awesome poems from awesome poets

So what's a Slam Champion - I'd guess at the winner of some sort of competition for what we call performance poets (night poets in the USA?) - would that be it?

Marian, though the rules vary, from site to site, a poetry "slam" is usually an open microphone competiton. Unlike a poetry reading, it usually features several contestants who read poetry and are judged on delivery and content. The description at the following site is typical: [www.daniland.com]

Les



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/19/2006 02:15AM by lg.