By Harlee Ludwig

I want to be a slam poet.  After seeing way too much slam poetry in the past few weeks I’ve decided that this is the only respectable career.Doing slam poetry is like being in a no bullshit zone.  Only the most confident, talented, passionate people seem to be able to pull off these poetry slams and I am eagerly waiting to join them.  I want to stand on a stage in front of dozens—or hundreds—of people and have them all stare at me.  Have them all hang off every syllable that exits my lips and most of all have their body affected by every word that slips off my tongue.

Between the Cat, Slow Train, and even Wilder Main, there are dozens of shows including—if not limited to—slam poetry.  And the topics range!  Oh, do they range.  From significant others, to friends, to family, seasons, video games.  When it comes to slam poetry anything goes.

From visiting poets to ones that moonlight as students, the artistic talent on this campus at any given time is—in all senses of the word—unbelievable and hard to grasp at points.

When I become a slam poet I promise to maintain these unwritten rules and continue being a confident artist who knows how to perfectly manipulate the English language to express exactly what it is that is on my mind.

As a person who finds herself constantly upset with the limits of the English language, slam poetry opens doors for me.  It gives me more ways of coping with this burden we call the English language and it gives me hope that one day I too can take ownership over this unreckonable force.

As hard as it seems I firmly believe anyone can be a slam poet and I hope people take this as a challenge and try to become one.  I promise I will be at all of your shows if you do.