If you’ve read my post “Life is a Journey“, you’ll know that I’ve recently become interested in slam poetry. If you haven’t heard of slam poetry before, I strongly recommend watching Sarah Kay’s “If I should have a Daughter” or Shane Koyczan’s “To This Day“.

There isn’t really a definition for slam poetry, but as I understand it, it is a form of poetry that is often performed as speech, but in an emotional, passionate, and sometimes harsh way. It’s similar to spoken word poetry, though the poetry itself is rather powerful, emotive and sincere. I’ve found that many slam poems are either very meaningful or relatable.  I think it is a beautiful way of performing one’s experiences, stories, or struggles.

Anyway, after investigating the concept of slam poetry, I really wanted to write a piece. I’ve found that, if you’re not inspired to something, or don’t have a strong idea, it can be hard to start something new. So, I didn’t rush into it. Instead, I pondered ideas and phrases for what felt like a few weeks (and knowing me, it probably was that long).

One day as I was walking on the beach, ideas hit me like a tonne of bricks, and all of a sudden I had about five verses of a poem!

It was a few days later that I finally had a chance to write all of my ideas down, and actually construct a poem (I wasn’t just procrastinating I promise, I just got really busy ;p). Anyway, after lots of writing, and editing, and re-writing, I finally had my very first slam poem!

So, I thought I would put it on the blog, that way I can find out if it’s any good, as well as something for you guys to read. Just a forewarning; it is a bit sad.

The Bullied

When you wake up, you start to raise your guards.

Start to re-build the barriers around your heart that were broken and burdened the day before.

Because you know that when they wake up, they won’t hesitate to start re-loading the names and insults that they threw at you.

And when you look in the mirror, you hope to see your barriers and defences stronger than they ever were before.

But all you see is a broken building, with blackened windows and breaking structure, crumbling and exhausted from the bullets and bombs it absorbs every single day.

And when you go to school, you imagine being greeted by all of your friends who have this great plan for the weekend…

Instead, you slink into the crowd, un-noticed and un-recognised except by the bullies who hurl insults at your face, and taunts at your heart.

Then you are noticed…

They all notice…

And they laugh…

And for the rest of the day, you hide.

At the back of classrooms, uncalled on by teacher, uncalled on by peers, uncalled on by the world.

And you eat lunch in an empty stall room, away from hallways and cafeterias because that’s where they’ll be waiting!

And last week it was the bathroom but now they know where you’ve been hiding and they’ll be waiting for you there as well.

And when the final bell rings you run, hoping to escape before they do because otherwise they’ll be waiting for you at the gate…

And on your way home, you imagine kind eyes and a warm embrace and lips that read “well done baby, take a break”.

But all you find is an empty house, and a note that says “dinner’s in the oven, I’ll see you tomorrow”.

Without even an “x” or an “o” or a small heart or three simple words that read “I love you”.

And when you feel your eyes beginning to burn, you run, this time to the ocean.

And when you get there you throw yourself in, hoping that the waves and the currents can wash away the heartache.

And for a second you think it’s all gone…

But when you come up for a breath, you realise it was only the piercing cold that numbed the pain.

And you think, maybe it would have been easier to stay down there…

Because when you finally get out, the sand is always there to remind you that the pain might never go away.

And that it will always be there…waiting.

And when the sky cries that night, you cry with it, letting your tears fall to your chest, as if it were an attempt to wash away the sorrows that you hold there.

And even when the sky is done, you continue.

You cry until your clothes cling to your body, and your sheets are cold.

You cry, until your body is so exhausted that you finally fall asleep, and prepare yourself…

For the next day.

 

I was actually quite surprised with myself in writing this. I had no idea that this would be what my first piece would be about. I would tell you I don’t know where the inspiration came from, but that would be a lie. I had lots of inspiration: Some from my own experiences, and what I feel after a hard day, some from others’ experiences, some from other poems. It’s more that…I’m not sure where I got the drive from. Although, wherever it came from, I’m glad it did.

So, that was my first slam poem. I know it’s a bit sad, but I like it. I hope you all did too! I may or may not post anything before the school holidays, but I will definitely try.

Yours faithfully,

Grace