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11 Really Good Slam Poetry Topics

11/25/2014

11 Comments

 

Topics & Ideas for Writing Slam Poems

ideas for poems, slam poetry topics, spoken word
I’ve probably stated this before, but coming up with a captivating topic that leads to a great story for your slam poem is not easy.

Slam poems have to be gripping – they need to win the audience’s attention up front and then not let up (for 3 minutes).

Your poems should be able to take people for a ride by conveying a strong lesson or message, teaching something, or bringing reality into perspective.

I’ll be the first to tell you two things on the complete opposite sides of the slam spectrum. 1) Writing slam poetry is really easy. 2) Writing slam poetry is the hardest cerebral activity you’re going to take on for a long time. 

Let me explain.

Writing poetry is really easy because I believe that everyone has a story, a message or a position on a cause that should be heard.

BUT… it’s incredibly challenging because not everyone knows the right levers to pull in order to ooze that story out in a compelling manner.

​The first step in overcoming that challenge is brainstorming a topic, so I’m writing this post to help kick-start your motor.

I’ve posted a few blogs with subjects and situations you can use to write slam poems about, but there’s a reason I wanted to add some more: I never want you to run out of great ideas! You’re already a creativity connoisseur when it comes to composition; now I want you to be a memorable maven when it comes to breaching new boundaries.

So here are 11 more ideas you can use for slam poem topics...

game of thrones, slam poetry, topics for poems, poetry ideas, GoT

​1) Write a poem about dating. I don’t think I have to explain this one, but it can go in a number of directions. It can be incredibly funny (speed dating? First date? Horrible dates?), or it can be as serious as date-rape. Either way, be sure to bring it to a message or a realization that can be universally identified with.

2) I’ve talked about writing love poems before. Let’s step that up a notch. Write an erotic poem! Write about fucking the daylights out of someone! Write about a threesome or some other crazy sexual experience. Make it suggestive and descriptive. Add some humor. With the right poetic tools, you will have an amazing crowd-pleaser and a poem that’s fun to write and perform.

3) Write a poem that compares society to either a movie or another made-up civilization. For instance, Game of Thrones is obviously a made-up fantasy. The values that the GoT society follows in the show are completely different than our reality – they’re unacceptable in today’s world. Or are they?? How much of the way we live is actually mirrored in things like showcased battles and pride in the number of kills you have? What about paying for sex? Or unfair trials? Etc…

poem topics, ideas for slam poems, spoken word, dating poem
4) Write a poem about how you are completely like, yet totally different than, someone. For instance, talk about being exactly like your mother, yet highlight how everything she does completely pisses you off. It’s a self-exploration type of poem, and you might be able to actually uncover some insightful realizations about yourself and your relationships in the process.

5) Write a poem about a fantasy or dream you have or had. Ever want to kiss the prettiest girl? Ever dream of driving a race car? Beating up the biggest kid on the block? Take the thought, develop it and then bring it to another level. Why can’t or didn't you achieve that dream? What human characteristics were roadblocks? What memories stood in your way?


6) Write a poem that gives a set of instructions or your own guidelines for doing something. How about instructions for a relationship? Guidelines to winning a physical fight? Steps to becoming rich – or not rich? Steps to writing a poem?? Etc…


poems about nature, poem topics, slam poetry, spoken word ideas

​7) Write a poem about how common sense isn't that common! How many times in your life have you said something like “What is he, fucking dumb?” or “Man, he has no common sense whatsoever!” You can talk about decision making, wits, classes of people and probably a thousand other branches can sprout from this tree. You should probably be able to come up with 20 ideas for your next slam poem from brainstorming this idea.

8) Write a slam poem from the point of view of following yourself around for a day. Be your own shadow. Follow yourself to a place where no one sees you, and then break out some of the secrets or shames that come. Remember, the audience does not have to know it’s actually you that you’re writing about. This is a good approach to using poetry to vent your feelings; it’s like an audible diary, but the audience doesn't realize it’s yours.

9) Write a poem about one of (or all of) the seasons – fall, summer, spring and/or winter. I pick this topic because there is a ton of historical literature and poetry about seasons and there are way too many critics out there who say “slam poetry isn’t actually poetry at all”. Well fuck them because we are masters of prose and poetic tools. So sometimes we should dial it back and give ‘em some art. Damn babies. But I don’t mean you have to get completely abstract and lost (like the way I feel when I read old-school poems); I’m thinking you convey a compelling story that happened to you last winter or spring – maybe that time when your friend wanted to kill herself? Maybe when you realized how unimportant the 7th grade Winter Dance was now that you've graduated high school?
​


​10) Write a poem that is a response to something. This actually brings out a number of topics. You can respond to a news article or story. A movie. A book. Another slam poem. An interview. A public statement. The president’s speech. Basically, any event that stirs an emotion with you can generate an idea for a slam poem.

11)  Write a poem using a line or verse from a song that you love. I did this once with Dopesick, Pt. 2. The last line was from Masta Killa of the Wu-Tang Clan ("Assasination Day" was the track from Ghostface’s Ironman album) – “I’d rather pursue death than admit defeat”. 
Basically, you can take one line or a group of lines, think about your own story and how those words define or relate to your message, and then let it flow. Script out the story first, then put it in slam poem form – you can use this guide to help.

In case you missed it or want to see even more ideas for slam poem topics, you can check out these three previous posts:

9 Slam Poetry Topics & Ideas 

Slam Poetry Topics & Ideas, Pt. 2 - Five Different Ideas for your Slam Poems


19 Social and Global Issues That Can Be Used For Slam Poetry Topics
11 Comments
Bie su
7/29/2015 01:04:46 pm

It would be usefulif you didn't swear in your blog, because I was reading this with my 10 year old, and she started crying because of the 'bad words'. She now has a negative opinion on poetry, and thinks it's for 'bad boys and bad girls'. So fuck you and your bullshit advice.

Reply
Amanda
12/9/2016 04:15:53 pm

It is pretty bizarre that you just criticized the writer for having "bad words" on her blog and then followed that up with cursing at her. Don't be a hypocrite.

Reply
Digital Poet
12/10/2016 02:59:00 pm

"like" (I commented on this below as well)

Digital Poet link
8/16/2015 12:46:46 am

I'm very sorry your 10 year old cried. As a parent, I can empathize with that. But honestly, if you are looking for "topics for slam poems", then you probably understand slam poetry is not censored. As a parent, you might want to be more responsible about what your child reads - perhaps censor or audit a page or site before they read it. The art of slam poetry is about expression and people express themselves differently. Again, I am sorry your daughter cried, but if you are reading slam poems or going to a poetry slam, you are going to witness explicit language.

Reply
Aikta
5/22/2017 04:46:47 am

Thank you for your content. It shed some light on slam poetry.

Reply
Isaac M
5/19/2019 08:22:50 pm

OATH

Reply
DIGITAL POET link
5/23/2017 10:21:35 am

So glad it was helfpful :)

Reply
Magar E
5/19/2019 08:21:14 pm

I like Men

Reply
Messe J link
5/19/2019 08:23:07 pm

I actually enjoy drinking plain milk thank you very much.

Reply
Msaac I
5/19/2019 08:25:45 pm

I really like suggestion two, it really outlines my life decisions and how i live my life as a whole. I am currently in year 3 and am 9 years old, i will be using suggestion two for my end of year assessment that is worth 75% of my yearly marks. If i dont get 100% i will be spanked by my parents, love you

xxoxox Mssac

Reply
i like slimy men
5/19/2019 08:27:42 pm

Bee Movie Script


According to all known laws
of aviation,


there is no way a bee
should be able to fly.


Its wings are too small to get
its fat little body off the ground.


The bee, of course, flies anyway


because bees don't care
what humans think is impossible.


Yellow, black. Yellow, black.
Yellow, black. Yellow, black.


Ooh, black and yellow!
Let's shake it up a little.


Barry! Breakfast is ready!


Ooming!


Hang on a second.


Hello?


- Barry?
- Adam?


- Oan you believe this is happening?
- I can't. I'll pick you up.


Looking sharp.


Use the stairs. Your father
paid good money for those.


Sorry. I'm excited.


Here's the graduate.
We're very proud of you, son.


A perfect report card, all B's.


Very proud.


Ma! I got a thing going here.


- You got lint on your fuzz.
- Ow! That's me!


- Wave to us! We'll be in row 118,000.
- Bye!


Barry, I told you,
stop flying in the house!


- Hey, Adam.
- Hey, Barry.


- Is that fuzz gel?
- A little. Special day, graduation.


Never thought I'd make it.


Three days grade school,
three days high school.


Those were awkward.


Three days college. I'm glad I took
a day and hitchhiked around the hive.


You did come back different.


- Hi, Barry.
- Artie, growing a mustache? Looks good.


- Hear about Frankie?
- Yeah.


- You going to the funeral?
- No, I'm not going.


Everybody knows,
sting someone, you die.


Don't waste it on a squirrel.
Such a hothead.


I guess he could have
just gotten out of the way.


I love this incorporating
an amusement park into our day.


That's why we don't need vacations.


Boy, quite a bit of pomp...
under the circumstances.


- Well, Adam, today we are men.
- We are!


- Bee-men.
- Amen!


Hallelujah!


Students, faculty, distinguished bees,


please welcome Dean Buzzwell.


Welcome, New Hive Oity
graduating class of...


...9:15.


That concludes our ceremonies.


And begins your career
at Honex Industries!


Will we pick ourjob today?


I heard it's just orientation.


Heads up! Here we go.


Keep your hands and antennas
inside the tram at all times.


- Wonder what it'll be like?
- A little scary.


Welcome to Honex,
a division of Honesco


and a part of the Hexagon Group.


This is it!


Wow.


Wow.


We know that you, as a bee,
have worked your whole life


to get to the point where you
can work for your whole life.


Honey begins when our valiant Pollen
Jocks bring the nectar to the hive.


Our top-secret formula


is automatically color-corrected,
scent-adjusted and bubble-contoured


into this soothing sweet syrup


with its distinctive
golden glow you know as...


Honey!


- That girl was hot.
- She's my cousin!


- She is?
- Yes, we're all cousins.


- Right. You're right.
- At Honex, we constantly strive


to improve every aspect
of bee existence.


These bees are stress-testing
a new helmet technology.


- What do you think he makes?
- Not enough.


Here we have our latest advancement,
the Krelman.


- What does that do?
- Oatches that little strand of honey


that hangs after you pour it.
Saves us millions.


Oan anyone work on the Krelman?


Of course. Most bee jobs are
small ones. But bees know


that every small job,
if it's done well, means a lot.


But choose carefully


because you'll stay in the job
you pick for the rest of your life.


The same job the rest of your life?
I didn't know that.


What's the difference?


You'll be happy to know that bees,
as a species, haven't had one day off


in 27 million years.


So you'll just work us to death?


We'll sure try.


Wow! That blew my mind!


"What's the difference?"
How can you say that?


One job forever?
That's an insane choice to have to make.


I'm relieved. Now we only have
to make one decision in life.


But, Adam, how could they
never have told us that?


Why would you question anything?
We're bees.


We're the most perfectly
functioning society on Earth.


You ever think maybe things
work a little too well here?


Like what? Give me one example.


I don't know. But you know
what I'm talking about.


Please clear the gate.
Royal Nectar Force on approach.


Wait a second. Oheck it out.


- Hey, those are Pollen Jocks!
- Wow.


I've never seen them this close.


They know what it's like
outside the hive.


Yeah, but some don't come back.


- Hey, Jocks!
- Hi, Jocks!


You guys did great!


You're monsters!
You're sky freaks! I love it! I love it!


- I wonder where they were.
- I don't know.


Their day's not planned.


Outside the hive, flying who knows
where, doing who knows what.


You can'tjust decide to be a Pollen
Jock. You have to be bred for that.


Right.


Look. That's more pollen
than you and I will see in a lifetime.


It's just a status symbol.
Bees make too much of it.


Perhaps. Unless you're wearing i

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  • Home
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    • Reader Submitted Poetry
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