Spoken word is a form of poetry that often uses alliterated prose or verse and occasionally uses metered verse to express social commentary. Traditionally it is in the first person, is from the poet’s point of view and is themed in current events.
In entertainment, spoken word performances generally consist of storytelling or poetry, exemplified by people like Hedwig Gorski and Gil Scott Heron, the lengthy monologues by Spalding Gray, and improvising ranters/commentators like Henry Rollins.
Spoken word poetry originated from the poetry of the Harlem Renaissance and blues music.
Modern day spoken word poetry became popular in the underground African-American community in the 1960s with the Last Poets. The Last Poets was a poetry and political music group that was birthed from the African-American Civil Rights movement.
Spoken word poetry came more towards the mainstream in popularity a short time later when Gil Scott Heron released his spoken word poem The Revolution Will Not Be Televised on the album, Small Talk at 125th and Lenox in 1970.
Sarah Kay is a professor of French at New York University.
Kay was a student in the UK at the University of Oxford. She started her teaching career at the University of Liverpool then moved to the University of Cambridge. She was head of department at Cambridge from 1996 until 2001 and Director of Studies at Girton College, Cambridge from 2003 to 2005. Kay has been a fellow of the British Academy since 2004 and was awarded a D.Litt (Cambridge) in 2005.
I Will Not Let An Exam Result Decide My Fate||Spoken Word
What Will You Do? || Spoken Word
Just A Friend || Spoken Word || Sophia Thakur x Chozen
A "Godless" Generation - Jon Jorgenson | Spoken Word
Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus || Spoken Word
Anna Blackmore - And I'm Okay [Spoken Word Poetry]
"New Jordans" | Spoken Word | Cedric Dale Hoard | The Good Fight Studios
America In 4 Minutes (Official Video) || Spoken Word
Why I Hate School But Love Education||Spoken Word
Parents Are The Hardest People To Please||Spoken Word
Time || Spoken Word by Kurt Schröder
Powerful Spoken Word Of The Week: The World Is Coming To An End!
Kai Davis Spoken Word: F*ck I Look Like!
The American'T Dream (The Purse Suit Of Happyness)||Spoken Word
Nothing changes. All remains dead. Descend.
I Will Not Let An Exam Result Decide My Fate||Spoken Word
What Will You Do? || Spoken Word
Just A Friend || Spoken Word || Sophia Thakur x Chozen
A "Godless" Generation - Jon Jorgenson | Spoken Word
Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus || Spoken Word
Anna Blackmore - And I'm Okay [Spoken Word Poetry]
"New Jordans" | Spoken Word | Cedric Dale Hoard | The Good Fight Studios
America In 4 Minutes (Official Video) || Spoken Word
Why I Hate School But Love Education||Spoken Word
Parents Are The Hardest People To Please||Spoken Word
Time || Spoken Word by Kurt Schröder
Powerful Spoken Word Of The Week: The World Is Coming To An End!
Kai Davis Spoken Word: F*ck I Look Like!
The American'T Dream (The Purse Suit Of Happyness)||Spoken Word
Darkness Is Losing | Jefferson Bethke | Spoken Word
The Black Bruins [Spoken Word] - Sy Stokes
Sarah Kay: If I should have a daughter ...
Get This Off My Chest || Spoken Word
A Shadow of A Doubt (spoken word) | @whatisjoedoing @chaseGodtv
The Greatest Artist Of All Time (ft. Jenny Snipstead) | Spoken Word
Pick Your Poison || Spoken Word
#DearMum | Spoken Word | Official Video
Sincerely Freedom // Spoken Word // Nick Vitellaro
We held hands on the last night of earth. Our mouths filled with dust, we kissed in the fields and under trees, screaming like dogs, bleeding dark into the leaves. It was empty on the edge of town but we knew everyone floated along the bottom of the river. So we walked through the waste where the road curved into the sea and the shattered seasons lay, and the bitter smell of burning was on you like a disease. In our cancer of passion you said, "Death is a midnight runner."
The sky had come crashing down like the news of an intimate suicide. We picked up the shards and formed them into shapes of stars that wore like an antique wedding dress. The echoes of the past broke the hearts of the unborn as the ferris wheel silently slowed to a stop. The few insects skittered away in hopes of a better pastime. I kissed you at the apex of the maelstrom and asked if you would accompany me in a quick fall, but you made me realize that my ticket wasn't good for two.
As you draw near
I hear the mutter of the worried earth
The joyous girl, the crystal clear
Deliver us of our poor hearts from naked fear
As you draw near
As you draw near
I feel the goddess, her celestial birth
The fullness of a love so real
The twilight of the god in me glows in my tear