A Different Type of Poetry

When your English teacher starts droning on about doing the poetry unit, most of you expect the next couple weeks to be some of the most boring. Who wants to sit there and read about a 50 year old poem? Not me. But the worst is when they give you a really confusing poem, using words you haven't ever heard before and then ask you what it means. But did you ever think that its possible for poetry not to be boring? Poetry that is entertaining. Poetry that is making a point in society. Poetry that is just outright funny. You didn't think that was possible right? But thats right folks there is such a thing. Sara Kay, Phil Kaye, Denice Frohman, and Suli Breaks are all spoken word poets that prove this with numerous witty poems.

Origin Story by Sarah Kay and Phil Kaye is a hilarious "explanation about whats going on" between the two friends. Having way too many coincidences they both were very bewildered when they met. This poem is a short story outlining the similarities between the two but how they are also so different. Both with Japanese and Jewish backgrounds, and both sets of parents had kids named Sarah and Phil. They actually both also went to the same camp without noticing each other. Not related and never have dated the two were just best friends. They express how they will always be there to support each other, be "woman enough to be the best man" and to "let [him] borrow [her] cousin" when he remains dateless. They vow that they “won’t let go” of each other ever and be the best friend they can. 

School, lets be honest we all dread it most of the time. But what if someone told you that you could be educated and successful without school. We have been mislead to believe that “to get a good job, you need a good degree” which you can only get after numerous, draining years of school. Suli Breaks explains in his poem “I Will Not Let An Exam Result Decide My Fate” how school is extremely unfair and that it is ridiculous that your future is based on a couple of assignments and one jam packed exam. Agreeably “we all have different abilities, thought processes, experiences and genes.” Breaks criticizes the society “that tells you abortion is wrong” and then “looks down on teenage parents.” This is the same society who determines what makes a person successful. And the government promotes the “importance of higher education” and then “[increases] tuition fees every…year.” This poem expresses the passionate opinion of Breaks, he believes in the “‘failures’ and ‘dropouts’” and how they don't need school to “[follow] their dreams.” 

This ridiculous topic has been so controversial over the past few years and there is absolutely no point. Who someone chooses to be with isn't anybody’s business unless your one of the two in the relationship. Denice Frohman addresses “all the straight people” in her poem “Dear Straight People”. But seriously consider this, why are these people concerned abut something that doesn't affect them in the slightest, other than occasionally viewing a little bit of PDA. People say “that [gay people] make [others] uncomfortable” but Denise points out that in that situation she or the other people become uncomfortable as well. It is unfair to assume that they gays and lesbians are the ones who are wrong. Why is it so bad to be different? Straight people show affection to their significant others freely but that is a “luxury [gay people] do not have yet.” It is truly unfortunate that this is still an issue today, but people like Denice are standing up to make the change.