What is spoken word poetry?

Makes a statement
Brings attention to problems in society
Offers hope
Engages the audience
Is entertaining
Is always read aloud
(Note: All spoken word poetry is meant to be read aloud but not all poetry that is read aloud is
spoken word
How does it work?
o Rhythm ! e"en though it is always written in free "erse# it has a definite dri"ing rhythm but not a
regular rhythm like limericks or sonnets$ %he rhythm keeps the poem mo"ing from one line to the
ne&t$
o Repetition' spoken word poets return to the same word(s or line(s se"eral times throughout
the poem to keep a central focus$
o Rhyme' Ne"er does the entire poem rhyme# like a limerick$ Instead# the poet uses rhyme as a
tool to emphasi(e an important point# idea or theme$
Is rap music considered spoken word poetry)
How do I start?
*tart with a cause ! +hat are you angry about) +hat needs change in your world)
+rite a list of ,uestions# words# thoughts that you think of when trying to answer the abo"e
,uestions$ (free write
-E%MAN./0
1ook at your free write for key words# phrases 2 ideas $$$circle or highlight
*tart writing3
*ay your lines out loud as you write4 yes4 hear the words
-E%MAN./0
5$O$+ by Alicia 6eys
I7m a prisoner
Of words unsaid
8ust lonely feelings
1ocked away in my head
I trap myself further
E"ery time I stay ,uiet
I should start to speak
But I stop and stay silent
And now I7"e made
My own hard bed
Inside this prison of words unsaid
5$O$+$
%hat9s what I am
Not a prisoner of war
A prisoner of words
Mostly I say
+hat you wanna hear
:ould you take it if I came clear)
Or would you rather see me
*toned on a drug of complacency and
compromise
M$I$A$
I guess that7s what I am
*craping this cold earth
;or a piece of myself
;or peace in myself
It7d be easier if you put me in <ail
If you locked me away
I7d ha"e someone to blame
But these bars of steel are of my making
%hey surround my mind
And ha"e me shaking
My hands are cuffed behind my back
I7m a prisoner of the worst kind# in fact
A prisoner of compromise
A prisoner of compassion
A prisoner of kindness
A prisoner of e&pectation
A prisoner of my youth
=un too fast to be old
I7"e forgotten what I was told
Ain7t I a sight to behold)
A prisoner of age dying to be young
%o my head is my hand with a gun
And it7s cold and it7s hard
:ause there7s nowhere to run
+hen you7"e caged yourself
By holding your tongue
-E%MAN./0
I7m a prisoner
Of words unsaid
8ust lonely feelings
1ocked away in my head
It7s like solitary confinement
E"ery time I stay ,uiet
I should start to speak
But I stop and stay silent
And now I7"e made
My own hard bed
Inside a prison of words unsaid

Discussion
/ +hat does the speaker mean by >a prisoner of words?)
@ ;ind a metaphor$ Auess what it means$
B -ow can you ha"e a "oice in the world) Ai"e an e&ample$
C +hat is the poet9s comment on society) (In other words# why do you think the poet wrote
this poem)
-E%MAN./0